Emmanuel Mbaka: The African Perfusionist - The Perfusionist Perspective

Aortic Hope is proud to welcome Emmanuel Mbaka from Kenya to our community!

Emmanuel is a cardiac perfusionist and has joined Aortic Hope as a volunteer Medical Social Media Contributor. Through his new educational series, “Inside Aortic Surgery: The Perfusionist’s Perspective,” Emmanuel will take us behind the scenes of complex cardiac and aortic surgery and introduce our community to a vital member of the surgical team that patients may not always hear about—the perfusionist.

When we think about aortic surgery, we often think about the surgeon and the repair itself. But behind every complex operation is an entire team working together, preparing for every possibility and focusing on one patient.

The perfusionist plays an important role during surgery, operating the heart-lung machine when it is needed and helping manage blood flow, oxygenation, temperature, and other critical aspects of cardiopulmonary support.

Through this series, Emmanuel will explain what happens before, during, and after aortic surgery, helping patients and families better understand the preparation, planning, technology, and teamwork involved.

His goal is not only to educate, but to help patients feel more informed, more prepared, and a little less afraid when facing an aortic operation.

📖 Part 1: Inside Aortic Surgery: The Perfusionist's Perspective

By Emmanuel Mbaka

The African Perfusionist Volunteer Medical Social Media Contributor, Aortic Hope

My Preparation Begins Long Before the Operation.

When most people think about aortic surgery, they picture the surgeon repairing the aorta.

What many don't realize is that long before the first incision is made, an entire team has already been preparing for that moment.

I'm Emmanuel Mbaka, a cardiac perfusionist from Kenya, and I'm honored to join the Aortic Hope community as a volunteer Medical Social Media Contributor.

Through this series, I'd like to take you behind the operating room doors and share a perspective many patients and families never see, the perfusionist's. I hope that by understanding what happens behind the scenes, you'll feel more informed, more confident, and a little less afraid.

So, where does our preparation begin?

It doesn't begin with the heart-lung machine.

It begins with you.

Long before surgery starts, we begin learning about the person we're going to care for.

As the perfusionist, I review your height and weight to calculate how much blood flow your body will need while the heart-lung machine temporarily takes over the work of your heart and lungs. Next, I study your diagnosis.

Are you having surgery for an ascending aortic aneurysm, an aortic root aneurysm, an aortic arch repair, or an aortic dissection? Is this your first operation, or are you returning for another surgery?

Every patient is different, and every operation requires an individualized plan.

I also review your blood tests to understand how best to support your body during surgery. I look at your blood count, kidney function, and other important results that help guide our perfusion plan.

Your CT scan and echocardiogram are just as important. They help us understand your anatomy and allow us to discuss the operation as a team before the day of surgery.

Together, we ask important questions.

Will we need to cool your body to help protect your brain and other organs?

Will we need a special technique to keep blood and oxygen flowing to your brain while part of the aorta is being repaired?

Will there be a brief period when blood flow must be safely paused so the surgeon can repair a particularly complex section of the aorta?

The answers to these questions shape how we prepare for your operation.

Only then do I prepare the heart-lung machine.

I select the equipment that best suits your body size and the type of operation you're having. I prepare the circuit, calculate the fluids needed, perform detailed safety checks, ensure emergency backup systems are ready, and confirm that everything is prepared before you arrive in the operating room.

By the time you are wheeled through the operating room doors, hours of planning have already taken place. Although you may see bright lights, monitors, machines, and people wearing surgical gowns, what you may not see is the preparation behind every decision. Every member of the team has been working together with one shared goal: to give you the safest operation possible.

Over the coming weeks, I'll take you inside aortic surgery from the perfusionist's perspective, sharing what happens before, during, and after these complex operations. Along the way, I'll explain not only what we do, but why we do it.

Because behind every successful aortic operation is a team working together for one patient.

~Emmanuel Mbaka The African Perfusionist

💙 Accurate Information. Greater Understanding. More Hope.

Welcome to Aortic Hope, Emmanuel!

We are grateful to have you sharing your knowledge and perspective with our community.

By the Community. For the Community.

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare team about your individual condition and treatment.