BLOOD COMPATIBILITY OF 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEMBRANE-OXYGENATOR DURING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS IN INFANTS

The contact of blood with the artificial extracorporeal circuit causes a systemic inflammatory response due to blood activation. In this stu dy, we compared two different paediatric membrane oxygenators used for extracorporeal circulation: a hollow fibre membrane oxygenator (Didec o Masterflo D-701, n=10), and a flat sheet silicone membrane oxygenato r (Avecor Kolobow 800-2A, n=10). Blood compatibility was indicated by measuring complement activation as well as leukocyte and platelet acti vation. In patients perfused with a flat sheet membrane oxygenator, co ncentrations of complement split products C3a were significantly incre ased 30 minutes after the start of bypass (p<0.01), whereas only a mil d increase of C3a was found in patients perfused with a hollow fibre m embrane oxygenator. Leukocyte and platelet counts dropped uniformly in both groups after the start of bypass mainly due to hemodilution. Act ivation of leukocytes and platelets identified by both plasma beta-glu curonidase and beta-thromboglobulin was similar in both groups. infant s perfused with a flat sheet membrane oxygenator received significantl y more donor blood than those perfused with a hollow fibre oxygenator (p<0.05). These results indicate that when used during paediatric card iopulmonary bypass, a flat sheet membrane oxygenator has a higher comp lement activity than a hollow fibre membrane oxygenator which is proba bly due to the relatively larger blood-surface contacting area of the oxygenator.