heart-lung machine

American  

[hahrt-luhng] / ˈhɑrtˈlʌŋ /

noun

1. a device through which blood is shunted temporarily for oxygenation during surgery, while the heart or a lung is being repaired.

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heart-lung machine British  

noun

1. a machine used to maintain the circulation and oxygenation of the blood during heart surgery

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heart-lung machine Scientific  

1. An apparatus through which blood is temporarily diverted, especially during heart surgery, in order to oxygenate and pump it, thus maintaining circulation.

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Etymology

Origin of heart-lung machine

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Mr. Nelson is a former heart surgeon who helped develop a heart-lung machine to support the first open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass.

From Washington Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Once she was weaned off the heart-lung machine, she discovered she had missed a major life event while under sedation: She had a son.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2023

By Tuesday, doctors were able to take him off the heart-lung machine.

From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2022

In that process, blood is pumped outside of the body to a heart-lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen-filled blood back to tissues in the body.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2020

Dal placed the connections to the heart-lung machine perfectly, and moved with new swiftness and confidence as the great blood vessels were clamped off and the damaged heart removed.

From Star Surgeon by Nourse, Alan Edward