Efficiency of a gas diffuser and influence of suction in carbon dioxide deairing of a cardiothoracic wound cavity model

Abstract

Objective: In cardiac surgery, insufflation of carbon dioxide is used for deairing of the heart and great vessels. The aim of this study was to assess a new insufflation device for efficient deairing and to study the influence of suction. Methods: We measured the content of remaining air at two positions in the cardiothoracic wound model. A new insufflation device, a gas diffuser, was compared with a conventional 0.25-inch tube. Carbon dioxide flow (5 and 10 L/min) and suction (0, 1.5, 10, and 25 L/min) were varied. Suction was studied in combination with the gas diffuser. Results: With the tube the median air content in the wound model was 19.5% to 51.7% at the studied carbon dioxide flows, whereas with the gas diffuser the median air content was no greater than 1.2% at 5 L/min and no greater than 0.31% at 10 L/min (P