Scope of Perfusionist, Courses, Jobs and Salary In India

• A perfusionist is also known as a CCP or a Certified Clinical Perfusionist, is actually a professionally trained health-care worker who is actually a part of a surgical team, particularly in the heart and respiratory surgeries.
• A perfusionist is a person who takes care of the heart and lung machine which is used during a heart surgery, particularly in the cases of cardiopulmonary bypass or lung surgery.
• There are some surgeries which require the heart’s beat to be stopped or controlled and that can only be done externally and the CCP or the Certified Clinical Perfusionist is required to use the heart and lung machine to keep the blood circulation going throughout the body particularly the brain so that the patient does not suffer from a massive coronary embolism or stroke, and continues to do so until the heart can be revived again where it beats normally on its own.
• With the growth in technology, it has become vital that a qualified technician is present during such vital surgeries.
   

• To be a Perfusionist and take it as a career, the candidate has to complete their 10+2 in Science subject with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany or Zoology as their basic subjects. Thereafter complete a bachelor degree in perfusion and then apply for two-year master’s course.
• One can also pursue a degree in nursing, medical technology or even respiratory treatment and thereafter apply for a master or a post graduation course in the field of perfusion. One can also apply for master’s or a Ph.D. in Perfusion if one has a degree in Biology.  
• One also has to apply to the Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion in India so as to be able to practice as a CCP. The board provides a certification for a period of five years which is subject to renewal upon expiry of the period and also annual review.  
• As a perfusionist, one must undergo training in heart and lung bypass surgeries, neo natal and pediatric patients as well as understand the equipment used in the various surgeries.
   

As heart surgeries are the critical operation, a perfusionist can find employment in the following places:

• Government hospitals.
• Private hospitals.
• Nursing homes.
• Military hospitals.
• Clinics and the Health Department.
• Medical Colleges.
• Rehabilitation centers.
• Government sectors like the railways.
• Teaching jobs.
• Individual Cardiac surgeons.
• Multi-specialty hospitals.

To be a perfusionist, one must have few basic skills. These are as follows:

• The person should have a keen interest in people and their well-being.
• A perfusionist should have excellent observation power.
• The person should have immense patience in his work.
• A perfusionist should a keen aptitude to understand the dictates of the doctor’s and patient’s vital statistics during surgery
• One should have good verbal and written communication skills.
• One should have attention to detail.
• One should have good personal skills while dealing with patients.
• Time management is also crucial.
• One is required to be methodical and has a presence of mind in critical cases.
• One must be very calm while administering injections and other medication as per the dictate of the doctor during surgery

• To pursue a career as a Perfusionist, the candidate must have completed their 10+2 in science, preferably with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Zoology or Botany as their main subjects and then pursue a Bachelor’s degree in perfusion and then do MSc in Perfusion. 
• The students, who have the background of medical courses such respiratory therapy, nursing they can also make their career as a perfusionist by doing PG courses in perfusion.

• A perfusionist does have more functions apart from just taking care of the heart and lung machine. 
• A perfusionist is required to monitor the levels of oxygen as well as the other gasses which are entering into the blood as to avoid possible coagulation or blood clotting.
• A perfusionist is required to monitor the blood circulation and controls its speed.
• Another job that a perfusionist has is to take care of the temperature of the patient, which is required to be constant 
• A perfusionist must take care of the composition of the flowing blood.
• A perfusionist must also be careful as to the medications which are to be incorporated along with other blood products as instructed by the doctor in charge
• Other jobs include checking on the equipment, managing new orders and supplies and ensuring the proper working of the machines.
• A perfusionist is also required to take care of other machines like the ECMO or the extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine particularly in emergency cases where neither heart or lung or both are not functioning properly.
   

• A government perfusionist can earn from Rs. 8000 to 10,000 based on their background and experience.
• A privately appointed perfusionist can earn up to Rs 30,000 depending on the duty.