Clinical PERFUSION scientist
The Clinical Perfusion Scientist role
A clinical perfusion scientist or perfusionist is a healthcare professional that operates the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgeries and other procedures that requires extracorporeal perfusion support.
The Perfusionists main role is to conduct the cardiopulmonary machine, monitor and manage the patient physiological functions during surgery.
The Perfusionist works in theatres as part of a multidisciplinary team witch includes: Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Cardiologists, Nurses, ODP, SCP and HCSW.
As part of their role perfusionists are involved in managing and supervising:
- Intra Aortic Ballon Pumps (IABP)
- ECMO ( Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation)
- Cell Salvage techniques
- VAD ( Ventricular Assisted Device)
How to became a Perfusionist?
To became a clinical perfusion scientist in Great Britain and Ireland you will need to:
- Obtain an upper second-class honours degree (or, exceptionally, a lower second-class honours degree) in a science or medicine-related subject
- Secure a clinical perfusion scientist trainee position at an accredited training centre in Great Britain or Ireland
- Apply with Bristol University (MSc Perfusion Science course) and register with the College of Clinical Perfusionist
- Accomplish 150 supervised clinical cases over 2 years
- Pass a written exam and a viva to became a qualified perfusionist
Useful links
Society of Clinical Perfusionist of Great Britain and Ireland
Bristol University
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/2021/health-sciences/msc-perfusion-science/
The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion