by David W. Holt, MA, CCT, program director of Clinical Perfusion Education
This week is celebrated as Perfusion Appreciation Week, recognizing perfusionists globally in the normal practice of patient support in open-heart surgery, blood management in orthopedic, vascular, oncological, and OB-GYN practices, and recently who have played an important role on the front lines of the pandemic by providing extracorporeal pulmonary support to some of the most critically ill patients.
This week was chosen because on May 3rd, 1953, the very first patient had a hole in her heart (atrial septal defect) repaired using a heart-lung machine by Dr. John Gibbon at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Please congratulate this very unique health-care worker next time you see one for a job well done!
Here’s a video of Scott Sanderson, MPS, CCP, LP, our Clinical Education Coordinator with more about perfusion.