A natural disaster is when events such as earthquakes, mudslides, floods or wildfires affect people. Despite our inability to control these events, we can plan and prepare for them to minimize damage when they do happen. Below are brief explanations of disasters that are common in California. Follow the links to more information about a specific disaster.
When this happens the patient is said to be on bypass.. The person who operates the machine is called a perfusionist. Before and while your child is on bypass, a blood-thinning drug will be administered to prevent blood clots from forming.
You'll be given medicine to stop your heartbeat once you're connected to the heart-lung bypass machine. A tube will be placed in your heart to drain blood to the machine. The machine will remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your blood, add oxygen to your blood, and then pump the blood back into your body.