Perfusionists are primarily known for supporting patients in the cardiac operating room while
on cardiopulmonary bypass. Over the last decade perfusionists have expanded their expertise to
include extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program development and management ventricular
assist device management intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation hemofiltration or dialysis
during or post cardiac surgery pacemaker rogramming anticoagulation management of
HIT-patients isolated organ perfusion for chemotherapy and blood gas management. Furthermore
there are additional responsibilities in catheterization laboratories as well as in research
studies and publications. While the roles and responsibilities of a perfusionist can vary from
hospital to hospital the complexity and variety of tasks performed require extensive training
and ducation both in theory and practice.This book is intended to serve as a comprehensive
review for perfusionists surgeons anesthesiologists pulmonologists pediatricians
neonatologists ICU nurses and ECMO specialists and we believe that it will help to enhance
theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding for extracorporeal treatments.
