What are cardiovascular perfusionists?
A perfusionist is a highly trained allied health professional. As a member of an open-heart, surgical team, the perfusionist is responsible for the selection, setup, and operation of the heart-lung machine.
A cardiovascular perfusionist operates specialized equipment during any medical procedure in which it is necessary to artificially support or temporarily replace a patient's circulatory or respiratory functions, such as in open heart surgery or other heart procedures.
Operation of the heart-lung machine, and more
During many types of open heart surgery, the patient's heart is stopped so that it is safer for the surgeon operate on. The patient's blood is diverted away from the heart and lungs into a heart-lung machine. The heart-lung machine takes blood out of the body, oxygenates the blood and then returns the blood to the patient. In effect, the machine assumes the function of both the heart and the lungs. The perfusionist is responsible for operating the machine during surgery, monitoring the altered circulatory process closely, taking appropriate corrective action when abnormal situations arise and keeping both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist fully informed. Continued advances in techniques used to support our patients create a challenging environment for the team.
Perfusionists routinely administer various types of blood products, medications and control the temperature of patients during surgery. In addition to the operation of the heart-lung machine during surgery, they also support other medical specialties in operating mechanical devices to assist in the conservation of blood products during surgery, and provide extended, long-term support of the patient's circulation outside of the operating room. Recent advances include the Berlin Heart, ABO incompatible protocols for transplantation, blood conservation, regional cerebral perfusion during hypothermic circulatory arrest, and introduction of rapid mechanical support in emergency ICU situations.
Our perfusionists advance the cutting edge of this technology, publishing their research in national, peer-reviewed journals. They serve as board and committee members for national perfusion societies, are clinical instructors, and volunteer their professional services for international mission trips.
Our experienced pediatric perfusionists
Offering more than 40 years of collective pediatric perfusion experience, our Heart Center perfusionists are:
- Bradley Kulat, CCP, LP, coordinator of perfusion services, co-director of the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
- Neale Zingle, CCP, LP, clinical perfusionist, pediatric committee member, American Society of Extra Corporeal Technology
- Steve Moss, CCP, LP, clinical perfusionist, Mission ambassador, International Pediatric Surgery Group
All our perfusionists are certified by the
American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, licensed by the state of Illinois and are members of the
American Society of Extra Corporeal Technology and
Illinois State Perfusion Society.