Reduction of microemboli count in the priming fluid of cardiopulmonary bypass circuits

Abstract

Microemboli may impair cognitive function in patients undergoing heart surgery. Prebypass filtration has been shown to reduce particle load in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) priming fluid. This study was performed to detect the embolic load of CPB priming fluid, to determine the efficacy of a 0.2 μm prebypass filter (PBF) in reducing emboli in the range of 0.1-5 μm and to provide guidelines for the handling of the device. A total of 12 CPB circuits were tested in two groups, using a laser light scattering particle counter, sensitive to microemboli in the range of 0.1-5 μm. In control group A, priming fluid before administration to the CPB circuit was analyzed. Group B circuits contained microporous membrane oxygenators (N = 5); group C consisted of CPB circuits with excluded membrane oxygenators (N = 7). When group A was compared to groups B and C, significantly more microemboli were found in the categories 0.2 μm, 0.5 μm, 0.8 μm for both groups B and C (p < .05). Group C circuits had higher microemboli counts in the categories 1.5 μm and 3 μm (p