ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Perfusionist

A perfusionist is someone who helps during a surgery to make sure that the patient's body gets enough oxygen and blood flow while the surgeon is doing their work.

Imagine your body is like a city with roads, buildings, and cars (blood vessels, organs, and blood cells). During surgery, the perfusionist acts like a traffic controller, making sure that the right amount of blood is flowing through the body's "streets" and "buildings", so that everything stays healthy and active. They use special equipment to pump oxygen-rich blood into the body and remove the carbon dioxide-filled blood that needs to be refreshed.

The perfusionist also helps monitor the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions to make sure that everything is going smoothly during a surgery. They work closely with the surgeon to make sure that the patient stays safe and healthy throughout the entire surgical process.

Overall, a perfusionist plays a very important role in helping ensure a successful surgery and the patient's well-being during and after the procedure.