heart-lung machine
C2Technical / Medical
Definition
Meaning
A medical device that temporarily takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during open-heart surgery.
Also known as a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine, it oxygenates the blood and circulates it throughout the body, allowing surgeons to operate on a still, bloodless heart.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A term used exclusively in medical contexts, specifically cardiac surgery. It names a singular, complex machine with a specific life-sustaining function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical or semantic differences. Both use 'heart-lung machine' as the primary term. 'Cardiopulmonary bypass machine' or 'pump' are technical synonyms used equally in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond the medical/technical connotations.
Frequency
Equal frequency in medical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The patient was placed on a heart-lung machine.The surgeon used a heart-lung machine to bypass the heart.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the pump”
- “going on bypass”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical journals, textbooks, and lectures on cardiac surgery, physiology, or biomedical engineering.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of explaining or discussing major surgical procedures. A layperson might say 'They used a machine to do the work of his heart and lungs.'
Technical
The primary context. Used by cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, anesthesiologists, and operating theatre staff.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The patient will be heart-lung machined for the duration of the procedure.
American English
- The surgical team plans to put the patient on bypass.
adjective
British English
- The heart-lung machine circuit must be primed with fluid.
American English
- The heart-lung machine technician is a perfusionist.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The patient's heart and lungs were stopped, and a machine took over their work.
- During the complex heart surgery, the patient was kept alive by a heart-lung machine.
- The perfusionist monitored the cardiopulmonary bypass, ensuring the heart-lung machine maintained optimal blood gas levels and circulation throughout the lengthy operation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HEART and LUNGS working together as one MACHINE outside the body during surgery.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUBSTITUTE / STAND-IN (for vital organs); a LIFE-SUSTAINING PUMP.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque like 'machine of heart-lung'. The correct Russian equivalent is 'аппарат искусственного кровообращения' (АИК) or 'сердечно-лёгочный аппарат'.
- Do not translate 'machine' as 'машина' in this context; 'аппарат' is the correct technical term.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'heart-lung-machine' (extra hyphen).
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'heart-lungs machines' (the compound noun 'heart-lung' is a fixed modifier).
- Using it as a general term for any ventilator or ICU equipment.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a heart-lung machine?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While used for the duration of surgery, prolonged use (several hours) increases risks such as inflammation, blood clotting, or organ damage, so surgeons aim to minimise bypass time.
A highly specialised healthcare professional called a clinical perfusionist or pump technician operates and monitors the machine.
No. A ventilator only assists or replaces lung function (breathing). A heart-lung machine replaces both heart (pumping) and lung (oxygenating) functions simultaneously.
No. Patients are under general anaesthesia and their heart is typically stopped while on the machine; consciousness is not possible.