Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of infant mortality. Many infants with CHD require corrective surgery with most operations requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB triggers a systemic inflammatory response which is associated with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), postoperative morbidity and mortality. Delivery of nitric oxide (NO) into CPB circuits can provide myocardial protection and reduce bypass-induced inflammation, leading to less LCOS and improved recovery.
Dr. Lillehei with Dr. DeWall then built and clinically established a heart lung machine using a bubble oxygenator. This became the standard method for oxygenating blood in the heart lung machine until the membrane oxygenator was perfected approximately twenty years ago.
