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A typical day

In before 7am to build and prime the circuit for the first case. During surgery you stand at the machine for three to six hours managing blood flow, oxygen, temperature, drugs and clotting while the surgeon works on a stopped heart. You talk constantly with the surgeon and the anesthesia team. Between cases you clean down, restock and set up again. Some days are one long case, some are three. Then there are the nights you get called in.