The Perfusion Technology course offered by MCHP, Manipal was started in July 2012. This institution offers BSc and MSc programs in Perfusion technology. The department has well-equipped laboratories for practical exposure, supported by super speciality hospital for clinical skills and  faculty selected for their field expertise and academic experience.

A perfusionist, also known as a clinical perfusionist or a cardiovascular perfusionist, is a specialized healthcare professional who use the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other surgeries that require cardiopulmonary bypass to manage the patient physiological status. 

The perfusionist is one of the highly trained member of the cardiothoracic surgical team which consists of cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologist’s, physician assistants, surgical technicians, and nurses. The Perfusionist's main responsibility is to manage the physiological and metabolic needs of the cardiac surgical patient so that the cardiac surgeon may operate on a still heart. This is accomplished through the utilization of the heart-lung machine, as well as its associated components of an oxygenator, filters, reservoirs and tubing. The Perfusionist is solely responsible for the management of circulatory and respiratory functions of the patient which has a great effect on the patient systemic condition and allows the cardiac surgeon to focus on the actual surgical procedure and less on the immediate needs of the patient. 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, Perfusionist’s are also key personnel in placing and managing patients on ventricular assist devices as bridge to recovery or heart transplantation and supporting patients receiving lung or liver transplants. In certain hospitals, Perfusionist’s can be involved in procurement of cardiothoracic donor organs for transplantation.

Aim of the Program

Along with the institution’s mission of excellence in health care education, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery concentrates on: 

A comprehensive, patient-centered educational program designed to prepare the graduate for the dynamic practice of Cardiopulmonary Bypass.  

The Perfusion Technology MCHP Manipal offers the following programs:

• B.Sc. Perfusion Technology
• M.Sc Perfusion Technology