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In the Beginning
This image is a drawing of one of the first roller pumps which was designed in 1855 by Porter and Bradley. This invention revolutionized open heart surgery and helped scientists, surgeons and researchers develop and modernize what is known today as the heart-lung machine. Monitoring/running the heart-lung machine is one of the most common responsibilities of a cardiovascular perfusionist, so the development of this machine was critical in establishment of this career field. -
The Early Days of Experimentation
On November 1st, 1926, Dr. Sergei Brukhonenko kept a dog alive for two hours using extracorpreal circulation- the first ever known in history, using donor lungs from another animal. Although the procedure was unsuccessful, this event led to further research involved in the development and implementation of the heart-lung machines used today. -
WWII- The Need for Advancement
This image is a description of the medical practices years ago. It wasn't until WWII, where the need for medical advancements became dire. Dr. Dwight Harkin began performing surgery on veterans with bullets lodged in their hearts that he successfully removed. It was more critical veterans who needed their heart to be worked on without the heart beating that aided in the cardiovascular perfusion revolution. -
Pioneers of Cardiovascular Perfusion
This image was taken in 1953 of Dr. John Gibbon and his wife Mary Gibbon with the heart-lung machine they designed. Dr. Gibbon and Mary spent about 20 years designing this pump by experimenting on animals. On May 6th, 1953 he and his wife performed the worlds first open heart surgery on a woman with a septal defect. Dr. Gibbons' wife Mary acted as his perfusionist throughout the operation. -
Evolution of the Heart-Lung Machine
On March 26th, 1954, Dr. Clarence Walton Lillehei performed the first open heart surgery using a cross-circulation pump (which is very similar to the heart-lung machines we use today). Prior to this advancement, in 1953, Dr. John Gibbons performed open heart surgery using his extracorporeal parallel screen oxygenator as a perfusion pump. Slowly but surely, pumps became more and more advanced as old designs were being incorporated into newer and better designs. -
The American Society of Extra-Corporeal Technology
We can accredit much of todays' perfusion careers to The American Society of Extra-Corporeal Technology (AmSECT). AmSECT was formed in 1964 and dedicated itself to the science behind the ever-changing and evolving field of cardiovascular perfusion. AmSECT is still active today in the re-certification and continuing education aspect of the Cardiovascular Perfusion field. -
The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
In 1975, The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion inherited the responsibility of designing and enforcing education and certification standards. These standards were once upheld by the American Society of Extra-Corpreal Technology which is known for holding the first certification exam just years before, in 1972. -
Thomas G. Wharton
Thomas G. Wharton was steadfast in his dedication to the education, research and training for anyone and everyone involved in cardiovascular perfusion. Throughout his dedication and financial support, the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion was created. Tom served as executive director for The American Society of Extracorporeal Technology and for the Journal of Extracorporeal Technology and was one of the main reasons formal education is required today for cardiovascular perfusion. -
Cardiovascular Perfusion 2020
Nowdays, cardiovascular perfusion is much more than an individual expected to constantly work with the surgeon during an open heart procedure. The job expectation is requiring you to manage and maintain a patient on ECMO. It is very hard to explain this job description in few words. A Cardiac Perfusionist impacts living and those unfortunately not living anymore. -
Perfusion Schools Today
If you are interested in cardiovascular perfusion, I highly recommend reaching out to someone and shadowing them. I worked in open hear surgery for 6 years, and worked daily with our perfusionists. It is very hard to get a job as a perfusionist, even if you shadow them for rotation.
