The professional who operates the heart-lung machine during surgery is a perfusionist. "Perfusion" means that branch or system of treating the sick that is limited to the operation and management of extracorporeal circulation to support, temporarily replace, measure, treat, or supplement the cardiopulmonary and circulatory system of a patient, including, when necessary to and part of the management and operation of extracorporeal circulation, the use of blood testing and advanced life support techniques and technologies, autotransfusion, and the administration of blood, blood products, and anesthetic and pharmacological agents. A person holding a license to practice perfusion may practice perfusion under the orders and supervision of a physician.
