perfusionist

noun

per·​fu·​sion·​ist (ˌ)pər-ˈfyü-zhə-nist How to pronounce perfusionist (audio)
: a certified medical technician responsible for extracorporeal oxygenation of the blood during open-heart surgery and for the operation and maintenance of equipment (such as a heart-lung machine) controlling it

Examples of perfusionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The machine is operated by a specialist called a cardiovascular perfusionist. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2021 Angela Sakal, the chief perfusionist at Saint Francis Hospital in Connecticut, told CNN. Holly Yan, CNN, 16 Oct. 2021 Daniel FitzGerald, a longtime perfusionist who operated heart-lung machines at the Brigham, said staff morale had plummeted in recent years after knowing its president worked so much on corporate boards. Liz Kowalczyk, Sarah L. Ryley, Mark Arsenault, STAT, 9 Apr. 2021 Czekajlo is a perfusionist, operating heart-lung machines during surgery, and worked in a COVID-19 unit. Lauren Zumbach, chicagotribune.com, 30 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perfusionist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perfusionist was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near perfusionist

Cite this Entry

“Perfusionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfusionist. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

perfusionist

noun
per·​fu·​sion·​ist pər-ˈfyüzh-(ə-)nəst How to pronounce perfusionist (audio)
: a certified medical technician responsible for extracorporeal oxygenation of the blood during open-heart surgery and for the operation and maintenance of equipment (as a heart-lung machine) controlling it
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!