Cardiac Perfusionist

Responsibilities:

• Performs duties to support cardiopulmonary bypass; maintains and demonstrates competency in the performance of all responsibilities.
• Appropriate choice and use of disposable and heart-lung machine equipment and safety devices for the performance of CPB.
• Appropriate maintenance, according to hospital practice guidelines, of the patient's physiological parameters/variables during CPB.
• Prepares for surgery by assembling extracorporeal circuit, including connecting tubing, oxygenators, pumps and filters. Primes and de-bubbles circuit.
• Prepares, administers and monitors flow of prescribed solutions and medications including circuit prime, cardioplegia, and blood products used during procedures requiring extracorporeal support.
• Develops perfusion care plan and calculates appropriate perfusion formulae to be communicated during preoperative briefing.
• Manages extracorporeal circuits to achieve conditions ordered by surgeon, including CPB, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), coronary perfusion, veno-venous bypass, or partial bypass.
• Maintains supply of blood in system and makes any adjustments needed to achieve conditions specified by surgeon or anesthesiologist, such as changes in blood temperature, oxygen/carbon dioxide ratio in blood, or patients’ electrolytes.
• Receives and interprets blood gas values and assesses adequacy of perfusion. Adjusts and monitors heart-lung machine settings according to clinical practice guidelines for CPB.
• Monitors and maintains anticoagulation according to clinical practice guidelines for CPB.
• Disassembles extracorporeal circuits and mechanical components of the heart/lung machine and cleans all non-disposable items and disposes of contaminated materials.
• Records, updates and maintains permanent records of all cardiovascular bypass procedures.
• Participates in emergency operation of intra-aortic balloon pump during cardiac procedures.
• Prepares and manages extracorporeal support for complex vascular surgery, including descending aortic aneurysm repair.
• Prepares and manages blood conservation systems.
• Prepares and manages extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits for veno-arterial and veno-venous support.
• Maintains a working knowledge of appropriate equipment and strategies utilized for complex cardiothoracic and vascular surgery
• Prepares and manages para-corporeal ventricular assist devices for patients requiring temporary ventricular support.

Requirements:

• Diploma from a Medical training College (basic) 
• Certificate/Diploma in Perfusion Technology (Sub-speciality)
• Certificate in Basic Life Support (BLS)
• (Two) 2 years on the job perfusion training experience in a university teaching hospital.
• Certificates in: Intra-aortic balloon pump, Biomedical pump, Auto transfusion 
• Demonstrates expert knowledge in normal heart function and the various diseases that afflict the heart