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heart-lung ma·chine .härt-'ləŋ-mə-.shēn n a mechanical pump that maintains circulation during heart surgery by shunting blood away from the heart, oxygenating it, and returning it to the body
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an apparatus for taking over temporarily the functions of both the heart and the lungs during heart surgery. It incorporates a pump, to maintain the circulation, and equipment to oxygenate the blood. Blood is taken from the body by tubes inserted into the superior and inferior venae cavae, and the oxygenated blood is returned under pressure into a large artery, such as the femoral artery. The surgeon is therefore able to undertake the repair or replacement of heart valves or perform other surgical operations involving the heart and great blood vessels.
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a combination blood pump (artificial heart) and blood oxygenator (artificial lung) used in cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery.Medical dictionary. 2011.