Barts Heart Centre – Perfusion Service

Barts Heart centre nurse with headscarf

What we do

What we do

What we do

The Perfusion service provides clinical perfusion services to the Barts Heart Centre.

Perfusionists are responsible for the use of a heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery to temporarily take over the pumping function of the heart and oxygenation of the blood. This allows the surgical team to perform procedures on the heart while it’s temporarily stopped.  Perfusionists also provide long-term support for the heart and lungs. 

Perfusion Service - the team

Fizzah Aziz Choudry working in the cath labs at Barts Heart Centre

Our department

We perform more than 2000 complex cardiac surgeries per year, making us the busiest in the UK.

The clinical perfusion department at St Bartholomew's is made up of 24 highly skilled perfusionists who cover a 24-hour service, 365 days a year. The department is recognised as an excellent training centre for trainee clinical perfusion scientists.