Specific parameters of operation of the minimized system for cardioplegia in children. Bench test

Abstract

It is very important to observe all the parameters of cardioplegia when protecting myocardium during cardiac surgery. To perform this task, it is necessary to have clear understanding of properties of the elements of the extracorporeal circuit of cardiopulmonary bypass.The objective: to develop a test model and using it to evaluate technical capabilities of blood cardioplegic system reducing the filling volume of the heat exchange chamber and the system supplying solution to the myocardium.Subjects and methods. A model of a neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was tested, it included an oxygenator and the cardioplegic system with a 7-ml heat exchange chamber; changes in the pressure and temperature in key nodes of the extracorporeal and cardioplegic circuits were assessed when the pump velocity, ambient temperature and fluid temperature in the main circuit were changed.Results. This modification provides a wide range of liquid volumetric velocities. Maintaining the selected variant of blood cardioplegia and safe pressure within the cardioplegic circuit is ensured at the perfusion rate of up to 350 ml/min. With normothermal circulation and air temperature in the operating room of 23°C, parameters of the cardioplegic circuit and solution delivery system allows maintaining the solution temperature within the range from 16 to 19°C. When the solution is cooled in a heat exchanger down to 4°C, the temperature of the final cardioplegic solution is maintained within 12-17°C; and with normothermal perfusion, air temperature in the operating room of 15°C and the solution temperature in the heat exchange chamber of 4°C, the temperature of the final cardioplegic solution can be within 6‒13°C. With perfusion in the mode of moderate hypothermia (32°C), air temperature in the operating room 15°C and temperature in the heat exchange chamber 4°C, the final cardioplegic solution can be delivered at the temperature from 5 to 9°C.Conclusions. The proposed test model allows investigating aimed to find out additional characteristics of the cardioplegic circuit.Ambient air temperature, cardioplegic pump velocity and main circuit fluid temperature are the main factors influencing the final cardioplegic solution temperature.When using the studied variant of the cardioplegic circuit assembly, the maintenance of the selected variant of blood cardioplegia and safe pressure inside the cardioplegic circuit are ensured at a perfusion rate of up to 350 ml/min.

Keywords

• cardiopulmonary bypass
• cardioplegia