This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Beckley, P. D Articles by Sites, J. P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Beckley, P. D Articles by Sites, J. P Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

A comparison of gaseous emboli release in five membrane oxygenators

School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Paul D Shinko

School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Jeffrey P Sites

Cardiovascular and Extracorporeal Technologies, Plymouth, Minnesota

The purpose of this study was to compare the air handling capability of five currently used membrane oxygenators: the Avecor Affinity^TM, the Bentley® SpiralGold^TM, the Medtronic Maxima Plus^TM, the Sarns Turbo^TM and the Sorin Monolyth^TM M. A circuit was constructed to include a hardshell venous reservoir and roller pump. Pressure monitoring sites and ultrasonic microbubble detection probes were located proximal and distal to the oxygenator. An air injection/infusion site was provided proximal to the roller pump inlet. Each circuit was primed with fresh anticoagulated bovine blood, adjusted to a haematocrit of 25% and maintained at 38 ± 1°C. Three different bolus amounts of air (10, 20 and 40 cm³) were injected at three blood flow rates (3, 4.5 and 6 l/min). A 1-min infusion of air delivered at 1 ml/s was also administered at three blood flow rates (3, 4.5 and 6 l/min). The hardshell reservoir was also completely emptied at each flow rate to simulate a massive air infusion.

At any given blood flow, outlet microbubble counts were usually higher with greater bolus amounts of air. When indexed to the inlet bubble counts, the following average percent microbubbles were released from the outlet: Turbo^TM 25%, Affinity^TM 7%, Monolyth^TM 5%, Maxima^TM 3% and SpiralGold^TM 1%. With a constant air infusion of 1 ml/s, greater outlet microbubble counts were associated with higher blood flow rates. Again, when indexed to the inlet bubble counts, the following average percent microbubbles were released from the outlet: Turbo^TM 44%, Affinity^TM 25%, Maxima^TM 19%, Monolyth^TM 16% and SpiralGold^TM 0%. All oxygenators deprimed when the hardshell reservoir was emptied and all shed microbubbles into the outlet blood except the SpiralGold^TM.

The results of this study indicate that air handling is not a simple function of blood flow pattern (i.e. top to bottom versus bottom to top), but also includes dynamics associated with oxygenator design, fibre arrangement and flow resistance.

Perfusion, Vol. 12, No. 2, 133-141 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/026765919701200208


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Jirschik, C. Keyl, and F. Beyersdorf A clinical comparison of bubble elimination in Quadrox and Polystan oxygenators Perfusion, November 1, 2009; 24(6): 423 - 427. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. A Rodriguez and D. Belway Comparison of two different extracorporeal circuits on cerebral embolization during cardiopulmonary bypass in children Perfusion, September 1, 2006; 21(5): 247 - 253. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Merkle, W. Bottcher, and R. Hetzer Prebypass filtration of cardiopulmonary bypass circuits: an outdated technique? Perfusion, January 1, 2003; 18(1_suppl): 81 - 88. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F De Somer, P Dierickx, D Dujardin, P Verdonck, and G Van Nooten Can an oxygenator design potentially contribute to air embolism in cardiopulmonary bypass? A novel method for the determination of the air removal capabilities of neonatal membrane oxygenators Perfusion, May 1, 1998; 13(3): 157 - 163. [Abstract] [PDF]