Bachelor in Perfusion Technology (B Perf Tech) at Maharajgunj Medical Campus (MMC), Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, is a four-year undergraduate allied health science program under the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University.
Perfusion technology focuses on the physiological principles, clinical techniques, and specialized equipment used to support or temporarily replace the functions of the heart and lungs during selected cardiothoracic, vascular, transplant, and critical-care procedures. The program prepares students to work with extracorporeal circulation systems and related cardiovascular support technologies.
Maharajgunj Medical Campus is a constituent campus of the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University under Tribhuvan University. The Bachelor in Perfusion Technology program was introduced within the TU-IOM system from the academic year 2075/76, and MMC records the program among its undergraduate allied health science offerings.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | Bachelor in Perfusion Technology (B Perf Tech) |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Institution | Maharajgunj Medical Campus |
| Location | Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Institute | Institute of Medicine |
| University | Tribhuvan University |
| Duration: | 4 years |
| Academic field | Allied Health Science |
| Entrance | MECEE-BL |
| Admission framework | Medical Education Commission |
| Professional council | Nepal Health Professional Council |
Perfusion technology is concerned with extracorporeal circulation—the temporary support of a patient's circulation and oxygenation using specialized equipment when the heart, lungs, or both cannot perform their normal functions during particular medical procedures.
A perfusion technologist works with technologies used in cardiovascular and related clinical care. The B Perf Tech curriculum specifically prepares students to understand and operate equipment such as:
These technologies may be used during open or closed heart procedures, vascular surgery, transplant-related care, and other situations requiring extracorporeal circulatory or respiratory support.
The role requires more than operating machinery. Students need knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, medicine, cardiac surgery, cardiology, cardiac anesthesia, emergency life support, and clinical perfusion principles.
Duration: 4 years
The four-year curriculum progresses from basic medical sciences into progressively specialized perfusion technology.
The first year builds the scientific foundation required to understand circulation, respiration, disease processes, and perfusion equipment. The second year adds medicine, pharmacology, health systems, and introductory perfusion technology.
The third year focuses more directly on basic and clinical perfusion together with trauma and cardiac life support. The fourth year advances into higher-level perfusion technology and introduces the clinical disciplines closely associated with perfusion practice, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, and cardiac anesthesia.
The first year introduces the medical-science foundation and the basic concepts of perfusion.
Subjects include:
Basic Anatomy and Clinical Physiology are particularly relevant because perfusion practice depends on understanding the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Pathology and Microbiology introduce disease processes and infection-related concepts, while Biochemistry supports understanding of physiological and metabolic changes that can occur during clinical care.
Basics of Perfusion Technology introduces students to the principles and equipment that become more central in subsequent years.
The second year develops the connection between general medical knowledge and perfusion practice.
Subjects include:
Applied Pathology and Microbiology extend the first-year foundation into clinically relevant conditions.
Pharmacology is important because cardiovascular and perioperative care involves medicines that can affect circulation, blood pressure, cardiac function, coagulation, and other physiological processes.
Medicine provides broader clinical understanding, while Introduction to Perfusion Technology develops the technical and clinical concepts required for more advanced perfusion study.
The third year shifts strongly toward professional perfusion practice.
Subjects include:
Basic and Clinical Perfusion Technology develop the knowledge required for extracorporeal circulation and related cardiovascular-support procedures.
Trauma, Life and Cardiac Life Support introduces emergency-response principles relevant to patients who may require immediate cardiopulmonary support.
Biostatistics and Research Methodology provide a foundation for interpreting scientific information and participating in research.
The final year covers advanced professional study.
Subjects include:
Advanced Perfusion Technology brings together the physiological, technical, and clinical knowledge developed over the previous three years.
The introduction to Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology, and Cardiac Anesthesia places perfusion practice within the multidisciplinary environment in which perfusion technologists work alongside surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
A defining feature of perfusion technology is the use of specialized cardiovascular-support equipment.
Graduates are prepared to work with heart-lung machines used to maintain extracorporeal circulation when normal cardiac and pulmonary functions need temporary support during certain procedures.
The program also includes knowledge associated with intra-aortic balloon pump support and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
ECMO provides extracorporeal support for circulation, oxygenation, or both in selected critically ill patients. Because this technology directly affects major physiological functions, its operation requires a strong understanding of circulation, respiration, monitoring, and clinical decision-making within a multidisciplinary team.
Cell salvage is another area included within the program's clinical technology framework.
Eligibility: Applicants may qualify through specified science or health-science academic pathways.
Eligible routes include:
Applicable diploma pathways include General Medicine, Medical Laboratory Technology, Ophthalmic Science, Dental Science, Pharmacy, Radiography, Ayurveda, and Physiotherapy under the stated academic conditions.
Candidates must also meet the prevailing requirements applicable to the relevant Medical Education Commission admission cycle.
Admission is conducted through the Medical Education Common Entrance Examination for Bachelor Level (MECEE-BL).
The admission process operates within the framework of the Medical Education Commission.
Applicants must meet the required academic eligibility and qualify through the applicable entrance process before participating in merit-based matching.
The MEC framework governs:
Seat numbers are determined under the applicable MEC process and may differ between admission cycles. Scholarship arrangements, entrance rules, matching procedures, and admission schedules are likewise governed by the prevailing MEC decisions.
Perfusion technology is closely connected with cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular anesthesia, cardiology, critical care, and emergency medicine.
MMC's wider academic structure includes departments in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic Vascular Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, and Microbiology.
The broader Maharajgunj IOM teaching environment also includes Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular & Transplant Center as an IOM-linked teaching and training site.
This setting is directly relevant to perfusion education because the profession operates within multidisciplinary cardiac and vascular care rather than as an isolated technical service.
Biostatistics and Research Methodology are included in the third year.
These subjects help students understand how clinical information is organized, analyzed, and interpreted. They also provide a foundation for reading scientific literature and participating in research related to perfusion, cardiovascular technology, extracorporeal support, and associated clinical disciplines.
Because perfusion technology depends on specialized equipment and evolving clinical practice, graduates also need to maintain professional knowledge after completing formal university education.
Bachelor in Perfusion Technology falls within the professional regulatory framework of the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC).
Completing the university program and obtaining professional registration are separate stages.
After completing the Bachelor in Perfusion Technology program, graduates must meet the applicable NHPC licensing examination and registration requirements before entering professional practice under the council's regulatory framework.
The academic-to-professional pathway therefore consists of:
Students must complete all required subjects within the academic period allowed under the program rules.
The curriculum applies an exit-barrier provision requiring students to pass all subjects within the normal four-year course duration plus four additional years from the beginning of the academic session.
This establishes a defined maximum period for completing the program.
The program has a duration of four years.
Maharajgunj Medical Campus is a constituent campus of the Institute of Medicine under Tribhuvan University.
Yes. Admission follows the Medical Education Commission's bachelor-level common entrance and matching framework through MECEE-BL.
The curriculum includes Anatomy, Clinical Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Medicine, basic and clinical perfusion technology, trauma and cardiac life support, research methodology, advanced perfusion technology, cardiac surgery, cardiology, and cardiac anesthesia.
The program includes knowledge and operation of heart-lung machines, intra-aortic balloon pumps, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems, and cell salvage techniques.
Perfusion Technology falls within the regulatory framework of the Nepal Health Professional Council. Graduates must meet the applicable NHPC licensing and registration requirements before professional practice.
