Cardiovascular Perfusionist

1. The primary duty of a Cardiovascular Perfusionist - Senior Cardiovascular Perfusionist is the operations of the

Heart-Lung machine and provides cardiovascular perfusion for a patient cardiac or non-cardiac surgery.

2. Reviews patient s medical history such as pathological stage and infections, type of surgery planned for

conditions and diagnosis.

3. Follows priming protocols for adults, pediatrics and infants. Priming the circuit with fluids as per protocol or

in consultation with surgeon/anesthetist for any special care.

4. Uses of drugs in priming solutions as per protocol for adults pediatric and infants. Addition of other drugs

and their doses only on the advice of the anesthetist.

5. Assembles and prepares additional equipment as per the requirement of the surgery or patient care, before,

after, during or after bypasses namely IABP etc.

6. Ensures what disposables to be used depending on adult, pediatric, or infant patients, keeping in mind cost

containment without compromising on performance and safety of perfusion circuit.

7. Checks the dates of sterilizations, date of expiry of disposables, fluids and drugs before using them.

8. Checks the integrity of the disposable materials to be used for damage and checks.

9. Assembles the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit under strict sterile conditions care and precautions.

Cardiovascular Perfusionist - Senior Cardiovascular Perfusionist is further responsible for protection against

any damage during perfusion procedure.

10. Disposes the waste and disposables after every use in a proper manner and following color coding disposable

bags for life threatening diseases like HIV, hepatitis etc.

11. Ensures the safety of the patient undergoing procedure by following safety steps avoiding entry of micro and

macro emboli in the circuit and not allowing the oxygenating device to be empty.

12. Maintains adequate blood flow for the patent undergoing perfusion procedure. Calculating proper blood flow

according to the protocol and maintaining throughout bypass.

13. Maintains adequate blood pressure for the patient undergoing CPB within limitations of CPB circuit and

surgical procedure and physiological limitations of the patient, with extra care for the patients with cerebral

and renal diseases.

14. Maintains adequate oxygenation of blood during CPB by assessing patients pre-existing condition and type of

surgery schedule to choose proper and suitable oxygenating device keeping in mind the age of the patient

whether adult, pediatric or infant.

15. Operates suction pumps and devices that remove blood from the operating field or venting and

decompressing various chambers of the heart. Having knowledge and understanding the significance of

blood trauma by these devices.

16. Maintains and regulates blood temperatures and thereby patient s body temperature. Safe use of adequate

temperature gradients when cooling or re-warming and using the proper devices to accomplish the

procedure safely.

17. Monitors various parameters and in-line devices for the patient's absolute safety:

• Electrocardiogram.

• Arterial Blood pressure.

• Central venous and LA pressures.

• Aortic cannula pressure.

• Patient temperatures rectal and skin.

• Venous blood and arterial blood temperatures.

• Oxygen flow.

• Blood flow rate.

• Cardiac Index.

• Myocardial protection temperature.

• Aortic cross clamp time.

• Bypass time.

• Heparin time.

• ACT Laboratory (Pre-bypass).

18. Intra-Aortic balloon pump and cell saver. Kidney perfusion for renal transplants etc.

19. Educates patients and their families about health conditions, treatments and preventative measures if

applicable.

20. Duties related to Senior Cardiovascular Perfusionist: - Monitors inventory and open-heart supplies on daily basis and control the supplying process of consumables

needed for surgery procedures. - Prepares the daily staff work assignment, on call schedule for perfusionist, vacation plan and training

workshop. - Prepares the inventory items equipment needs to perform open heart surgical procedures. Communicates

with companies for any delivery or any technical support. - Database management for department statistic for procedure, research and any required data/ information

related to department

Skills and Abilities: -

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years. Be able to perform individually, do perfusion to adult, pediatric

and infant patients during Open Heart Surgery with accuracy and efficiency Excellent

background knowledge of medical terminology and general knowledge of anatomy of

heart, lungs and great vessels and also general human physiology

Education: University Science Graduate, Post Graduate or Basic Medical Doctor or a Diploma or

Post Graduate Diploma in Perfusion Technology from reputable University or Hospital

Language: English & Arabic Preferable

Licenses / Certifications: License for practice as per the regional health regulatory authority e.g. (SCFHS / /

DHA), BLS and ACLS