What Is a Heart-Lung Machine?
When patients hear they need open-heart surgery, one of the most common questions they ask is, “How will my heart keep working during the operation?” The answer lies in a remarkable medical innovation—the heart-lung machine, also known as the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine. This advanced technology temporarily performs the functions of the heart and lungs, allowing surgeons to safely operate on a still heart.
At Aster RV Hospitals, advanced cardiac procedures are performed using state-of-the-art technology under the expertise of Dr. Divakar Bhat, widely regarded as one of the Best Open Heart Surgeons in Bangalore.How does a Heart-lung machine work?During open-heart surgery, blood is diverted from the patient’s body into the heart-lung machine through specialized tubes called cannulas. Inside the machine, carbon dioxide is removed, oxygen is added, and the oxygen-rich blood is pumped back into the body. This ensures that vital organs, including the brain and kidneys, continue to receive a steady supply of oxygenated blood while the heart is temporarily stopped.The heart is safely arrested using a special solution called cardioplegia, providing surgeons with a motionless field to perform intricate procedures with exceptional precision.When is cardiopulmonary bypass needed?A heart-lung machine is commonly used during:
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
- Heart valve repair or replacement
- Surgery for congenital heart defects
- Aortic aneurysm repair
- Heart and lung transplantation
- Certain emergency cardiac procedures
- Bleeding due to changes in blood clotting
- Blood clots or stroke
- Infection
- Temporary kidney dysfunction
- Low blood pressure (vasoplegia)
- Inflammatory response
- Temporary memory or concentration problems after surgery
