Program Overview

Introduction to the M.Sc Perfusion Technology Program

The M.Sc Perfusion Technology course is offered by the Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP), which started in July 2012. This institution provides both BSc and MSc programs in Perfusion Technology. The department is equipped with well-equipped laboratories for practical exposure, supported by a super specialty hospital for clinical skills, and faculty selected for their field expertise and academic experience.

Program Overview

A perfusionist, also known as a clinical perfusionist or a cardiovascular perfusionist, is a specialized healthcare professional who uses the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other surgeries that require cardiopulmonary bypass to manage the patient's physiological status. The perfusionist is a highly trained member of the cardiothoracic surgical team, which consists of cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, surgical technicians, and nurses.

Responsibilities of a Perfusionist

The perfusionist's main responsibility is to manage the physiological and metabolic needs of the cardiac surgical patient, allowing the cardiac surgeon to operate on a still heart. This is accomplished through the utilization of the heart-lung machine, as well as its associated components, including:

• Oxygenator
• Filters
• Reservoirs
• Tubing Other responsibilities include:
  • Autologous blood collection and processing
  • Implementation and management of the intra-aortic balloon pump
  • Adult and infant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) In many tertiary hospitals, perfusionists are also key personnel in placing and managing patients on ventricular assist devices as a bridge to recovery or heart transplantation and supporting patients receiving lung or liver transplants. In certain hospitals, perfusionists can be involved in the procurement of cardiothoracic donor organs for transplantation.

Aim of the Program

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery concentrates on providing a comprehensive, patient-centered educational program designed to prepare graduates for the dynamic practice of cardiopulmonary bypass, aligning with the institution's mission of excellence in healthcare education.