Biomaterial Database

Expanding the role of perfusionists in the era of new treatment options for cardiovascular disease. 2003

Joseph J Sistino

Cardiovascular Perfusion Program, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. sistinoj@musc.edu

Treatment for cardiovascular disease has dramatically changed the surgical patient population over the past 10 years. Advances in medical management and interventional cardiovascular procedures have delayed surgery in many adults, and the surgical pool has begun to decrease despite an aging population. This affects perfusionists in terms of new psychological and technical challenges, and has serious consequences and implications for the future of the profession. This study will review the changing patterns of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in the USA over the past 10 years by examining the annual surgical procedure rates and correlating them with the number of practicing perfusionists and new student graduates. The purpose of this review is to project the future employment opportunities for perfusionists. The second part of the paper will look at the alternative roles perfusionists have expanded into as a result of changes in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The results of an e-mail survey of perfusionists will be presented to identify new applications of perfusion technology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010477	Perfusion	Treatment process involving the injection of fluid into an organ or tissue.	Perfusions
D002318	Cardiovascular Diseases	Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM.	Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D006328	Cardiac Catheterization	Procedures in which placement of CARDIAC CATHETERS is performed for therapeutic or diagnostic procedures.	Catheterization, Cardiac,Catheterization, Heart,Heart Catheterization,Cardiac Catheterizations,Catheterizations, Cardiac,Catheterizations, Heart,Heart Catheterizations
D006348	Cardiac Surgical Procedures	Surgery performed on the heart.	Cardiac Surgical Procedure,Heart Surgical Procedure,Heart Surgical Procedures,Procedure, Cardiac Surgical,Procedure, Heart Surgical,Procedures, Cardiac Surgical,Procedures, Heart Surgical,Surgical Procedure, Cardiac,Surgical Procedure, Heart,Surgical Procedures, Cardiac,Surgical Procedures, Heart
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001026	Coronary Artery Bypass	Surgical therapy of ischemic coronary artery disease achieved by grafting a section of saphenous vein, internal mammary artery, or other substitute between the aorta and the obstructed coronary artery distal to the obstructive lesion.	Aortocoronary Bypass,Bypass, Coronary Artery,Bypass Surgery, Coronary Artery,Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting,Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery,Aortocoronary Bypasses,Artery Bypass, Coronary,Artery Bypasses, Coronary,Bypass, Aortocoronary,Bypasses, Aortocoronary,Bypasses, Coronary Artery,Coronary Artery Bypasses
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D015906	Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary	Dilation of an occluded coronary artery (or arteries) by means of a balloon catheter to restore myocardial blood supply.	Angioplasty, Coronary Balloon,Angioplasty, Transluminal, Percutaneous Coronary,Coronary Angioplasty, Transluminal Balloon,Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty,Balloon Dilation, Coronary Artery,Transluminal Coronary Balloon Dilation,Angioplasties, Coronary Balloon,Balloon Angioplasties, Coronary,Balloon Angioplasty, Coronary,Coronary Balloon Angioplasties,Coronary Balloon Angioplasty
D015995	Prevalence	The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time.	Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences