Perfusionists have a fundamental role in multi-professional teams involved in cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. The main objective of this study is to outline the profile of Brazilian perfusionists in the labor market by considering the evolution, current scenario, and future perspectives of this profession. Data from socio-demographic and professional profiles in active duty in Brazil were obtained through an electronic survey. The sample consisted of 157 perfusionists and showed that most of the professionals are female (58%), have up to 35 years of age (47.8%), and are married or are in a stable union (60%). Nurses make up 44.6% of the sample, followed by biomedical scientists at 31%. The salary range is related to the hours worked: the more hours worked, the higher the salaries (p = 0.007). Complementary training shows a period of transition and improvement in this specialty: 94% have a higher education level, 97% of whom are graduates in one of the six courses that recognize the role of professional perfusionists. There was no association between the time of professional performance and complementary training (p = 0.252). The professional profile of perfusionists is in clear evolution in terms of qualification since knowledge from the past, current scenario, and future projections trace new actions and professional insertion into different areas.
Keywords: cardiopulmonary bypass; cardiovascular surgery; history; professional practice.