Long‐Term Circulatory and Respiratory Support Using Two Artificial Ventricles and a Fluorocarbon Oxygenator

Abstract

Using a new heart-lung machine developed at our Institute, experiments were conducted on dogs, donkeys, and monkeys, providing complete and assisted artificial circulation, assisted oxygenation, and perfusion preservation of the heart. The new apparatus consists of two sequentially mounted artificial ventricles working in an antiphase mode; blood oxygenation is accomplished by a reusable oxygenator with a fluorocarbon preoxygenator. Experimental results indicate that clinical use of the apparatus is promising and deserves consideration. The conditions of perfusion were close to physiological conditions and provided long-term survival of the animals. Performance in left ventricular bypass was optimized by monitoring myocardial PO2 and the state of the quick-connect/cut-off assemblies.

Hollow Fiber Hemodialyzers for Partial Respiratory Support

“…In 1965 Howlett employed an oxygenator based on perfluorochemicals, while Ioseliani recently achieved extracorporeal blood oxygenation for 24 hours in animals, using a liquid fluorocarbon membrane as a preoxygenator and incorporating a bubble oxygenator in a heart-lung machine. However, the risk of fluorocarbon emboli has made the clinical use of fluorocarbons for extracorporeal blood oxygenation impracticable[33,34]. Similarly Zborowski, in an attempt to improve CO2 removal through the dialysis membrane, suspended droplets of medical grade silicon oil in the dialysate medium.…”