Perfusion science: An international and Pakistani perspective

Surgery on the heart was considered out of bounds till the invention of the bypass machine in 1953. Since then the significant advancements have been made in the heart lung machine, as it evolved over time. In the initial era, it was operated by operating room technicians or physicians, but with its increased use in the 1960s, a need was soon felt for more trained professionals to operate the machine. Hence, a new breed of professional cardiovascular perfusionists came into existence with formal certification and accreditation. In United States, Ohio University started formal training of perfusionists in 1969. This was followed by the creation of various organizations to facilitate the accreditation process, such as The American Society of Extra-Corporeal Technology (AmSECT) and American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP). In Europe, The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP) was founded in 1991 by Cardiovascular Perfusionists, which continued to certify perfusionists. In Pakistan the Pakistan Society of Clinical Perfusionists (PSCP) was formed in 2009, to facilitate former education and certification in perfusion sciences. Increased demand for quality assurance and to maintain standards of practice in the field of perfusion sciences, has led to the creation of Internationa] Consortium for Evidence Based Perfusion (ICEBP). With constant improvements in the heart lung machine to make bypass safer, the perfusionist must be familiar with updated protocols and knowledge to ensure the safety of the patient during cardiac procedures.