Heart–lung machine

A machine that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs to facilitate operations such as open heart surgery, heart transplants, and heart–lung transplants. A heart–lung machine consists of a pump (to replace the heart’s function) and an oxygenator (to replace the lung’s function). It bypasses the heart and lungs, and the heart can be stopped. Use of a heart–lung machine tends to damage red blood cells and to cause blood clotting. These problems can be minimized, however, by the administration of heparin, an anticoagulant drug, beforehand.