Excerpts From Heart Surgery in America: Pump Zombies

As 2026 continues to bring rapid advances in technology, this month’s Pulse on Perfusion turns to a question many in the field are actively grappling with: how far can simulation go, and where do animal models still play a role? At Perfusion.com, this poll explores the intersection of ethics, education, and clinical readiness – areas where decisions are rarely simple and often deeply personal. With many perfusionists having trained on animal models themselves, the responses reflect not just opinions but lived experience. What emerges is a thoughtful and at times divided conversation about what the future of perfusion training should look like.