Objective
The AvalonElite™ double lumen cannula (DLC) can provide effective cavopulmonary assistance (CPA) in a Fontan (TCPC) sheep model, but it requires strict alignment. The objective was to fabricate and test a newly designed paired umbrellas DLC without alignment requirement.
Methods
The paired membrane umbrellas were designed on the DLC to bracket infusion blood flow toward the pulmonary artery. Two umbrellas were attached, one 4 cm above and one 4 cm below infusion opening. Umbrellas were temporarily wrapped and glued to DLC body to facilitate insertion. A TCPC mock loop was used to test CPA performance and reliability with DLC rotation and displacement. The paired umbrella DLC was also tested in a TCPC adult sheep model (n=6).
Results
The bench test showed up to 4.5 l/min pumping flow and about 90% pumping flow efficiency at 360° rotation and 8 cm displacement of DLC. The TCPC model with compromised hemodynamics was successfully created in all 6 sheep. The CPA DLC with paired umbrellas was smoothly inserted into SVC and extracardiac conduit in all sheep. At 3.5–4.0 l/min pump flow, the sABP and CVP returned to normal baseline and remained stable throughout 90 min experiment, demonstrating effective CPA support. DLC Rotation and displacement did not affect performance. Autopsy revealed well opened and positioned paired umbrellas, and DLCs were easily removed from RJV.
Conclusions
Our DLC with paired umbrellas is easy to insert and remove. The paired umbrellas eliminated the strict alignment requirement and assured consistent CPA performance. (245 Words)
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