The Heart-Lung Machine

The Heart-Lung Machine is an amazing piece of modern machinery. Able to sustain life while the body's own heart and lungs are undergoing surgery, it is sure to stay a necessary tool in the OR.  Please take a look at this article by Dr. Mark M. Levinson on this machine.  Http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1486

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Heart-Lung Machine is a necessary tool in today's OR room. It keeps the blood and oxygen in the body circulating while surgery is being performed. This is made possible by a system called the arteriovenous system or the pump oxygenator. The oxygenator takes the blood that has carbondioxide in it and replaces it with fresh oxygen. The blood is then pumped back into the body by the arterial veins in the heart. The heart is stopped by a potassium citrate that is put through the coronary vessels. The heart or lungs are then opened and the necessary repairs made without obstruction of blood running into the chambers. When the repairs are complete, the heart is restarted and the heart-lung machine disconnected from the patient's beating heart.

Side effects from the Heart-Lung machine

1. Inflammed Kidneys

2. Inflammed Lungs

3.  Small risk to the Retina 

4. Blood clots

5. May show perception problems: Memory loss, concentration problems, depression, & attention deficiency.