A perfusionist is a surgical professional whose duties are to monitor a heart and lung machine used during surgery to take over the patient’s vital functions, namely to provide blood flow throughout the body while the surgeon operates. For example, if a patient has kidney failure, your responsibilities are to ensure nothing is wrong with the hemodialysis machine, and if the patient is having open heart surgery, you monitor artificial blood pumps. It’s your job to assess which machine to use for each procedure. In addition to these responsibilities, your duties include recording relevant information during surgery, maintaining records and sterile equipment, and following all health and safety precautions.