Students from Penn-Trafford High School recently traveled to Allegheny General Hospital, where they observed an open-heart surgery procedure.
During the visit, students watched a valve replacement surgery, which gave them an overview of a complex medical procedure and how a surgical team works together in the operating room.
Students also met with Mr. James Monroe, a perfusionist who lives in the Penn-Trafford community. Monroe spoke with the students about his role during cardiac procedures and explained the responsibilities of a perfusionist, who operates the heart-lung machine and helps maintain circulation and oxygen levels while a patient’s heart is stopped during surgery.
The students who attended the observation were from Mrs. Wukich’s and Mrs. Henney’s classes.
[Front] Alex Serapiglia, Alyssa Arko, Gabriella Rubbe, Mackenzie Cox, Elena Southern, [Back] Elle LeJeune, Adithri Pingali, Benjamin Wei, Cianna Culgan, Gabriella Naglich, Mr. James Monroe, Tim Wolford, and Seth Pochiba