Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It DoesUsesHow It WorksRisks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Does
Uses
How It Works
Risks
Patients are kept on a heart-lung machine for only as long as it takes to stop the heart from beating, completeopen-heart surgeryor a procedure on the lungs, and restart the heart.
A heart-lung machine may also be used on a person who needs heart or respiratory support for non-surgical reasons. For example, the machine can be used for someone with heart failure who is waiting for a heart transplant.
What Does a Heart-Lung Machine Do?
The machine also adds oxygen to the blood while taking over the pumping action of the heart, replacing the function of the lungs.
When a Heart-Lung Machine Is Used
There are two primary reasons why a heart-lung machine is used. The most common use is so the heart can be temporarily stopped for surgery,but the machine can also be used to support people with heart failure.
Heart Surgery
Some cardiac surgeries would be impossible to perform with the heart beating, as surgery would be performed on a “moving target” or there would be significant blood loss.
A great example of this is aheart transplant procedure: The patient’s heart must be removed from the body so the donated heart can be put in.Without a pump to replace the action of the heart, the heart transplant would be impossible.
Lung Surgery
The same is true of some lung surgeries; there must be a way to oxygenate the blood when the lungs cannot.
Alung transplant procedurerequires an alternative way to oxygenate blood when the lungs cannot, but the heart may continue to beat during the procedure.
Heart Failure
For other patients, the pump is used not for surgery, but to help keep a patient alive when they are experiencing heart failure that would be life-ending. In some rare cases, a heart failure patient may be placed on the pump to support the patient until a hearttransplantbecomes available.
How Does a Heart-Lung Bypass Machine Work?
A third tube is also inserted very near or directly into the heart, but not connected to the CPM. It is used to flush the heart with cardioplegia, a potassium solution which stops the heart.Once the cardioplegia takes effect, the CBM is initiated and takes over the heart and lung function.
Who Operates a Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machine?
Some perfusionists take an exam to become a certified clinical perfusionist, which is similar to a physician being board certified in a specialty.
Risks of Cardiopulmonary Bypass
These risks are decreased with shorter times on the pump and increased with longer pump times.
How Long Can Someone Be on a Heart-Lung Machine?Given the risks associated with longer time spent on a heart-lung machine, health professionals generally consider three hours or less is ideal.
How Long Can Someone Be on a Heart-Lung Machine?
Given the risks associated with longer time spent on a heart-lung machine, health professionals generally consider three hours or less is ideal.
A Word From Verywell
When possible, it is important to take the time to discuss the risks and rewards of the procedure as well as alternatives to surgery before you make a decision.
—CHRISTOPHER LEE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedars-Sinai.Surgery of the heart.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Heart surgery.
MedlinePlus.Heart transplant.
Chambers DJ, Fallouh HB.Cardioplegia and cardiac surgery: pharmacological arrest and cardioprotection during global ischemia and reperfusion.Pharmacol Ther. 2010;127(1):41-52. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2010.04.001
What Is a Cardiovascular Perfusionist?Perfusion.com.
What to Expect During Heart Surgery. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
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