Evaluation of Four Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass Circuits in Terms of Perfusion Quality and Capturing Gaseous Microemboli

This study compared four pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits with four different hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators and their specific reservoirs, Capiox RX15, Quadrox-i pediatric, Quadrox-i pediatric with integrated arterial filter (IAF) and KIDS D101, in a simulated CPB circuit identical to that used in the clinical setting at our institution to test their ability to maintain hemodynamic properties, remove gaseous microemboli (GME), and to test the amount of blood stolen by the arterial filter purge line. The circuit was first primed with Ringer’s Lactate solution, then red blood cells were added and the hematocrit was maintained at 30%. A 5-cc bolus of air was injected just proximal to the venous reservoir over a thirty-second interval and GME were monitored using an Emboli Detection and Classification quantifier. Transducers were placed at pre-oxygenator, post-oxygenator and distal arterial line (post-filter) positions. Flow probes were also placed both pre and post filter. The injections were made at three flow rates, hypothermic and normothermic temperatures, and with the purge line in both the opened and closed positions. Six injections were done at each of the 12 experimental conditions. Results demonstrated that GME in the arterial line increased with increasing temperature and flow rate. The Capiox RX15 had the least GME in the arterial line at all experimental conditions. The KIDS D101 had the largest pressure drop and the lowest retention of hemodynamic energy, while the Capiox had the lowest pressure drop. All of the oxygenators had a similar amount of stolen blood flow and it was consistently under 10% of the total flow reaching the patient.