A SIMPLE NEONATAL MOCK CIRCULATION ENABLING PULSATILITY AND DIFFERENTHEMODYNAMIC STATES FOR NEONATAL ECMO RESEARCH - APPLICATION TO ASSESSTHE EFFECT OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP OPERATED NEONATAL ECMO SYSTEM ON THECIRCULATION

In neonates, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingl y used for circulatory support, e.g., after cardiac surgery. For train ing purposes and for research, animal experiments are usually required , complicated by increasing social issues, high costs, and limited rep roducibility. Therefore, we designed a mechanical neonatal mock circul ation (NMC) model enabling pulsatility and various hemodynamic conditi ons commonly occurring in neonates. Connected to a flow and pressure r eading interface, a computer assisted data management system was insta lled. A nonocclusive roller pump combined with stiff and elastic tubin g segments (for aortic pressure regulation and venous capacity) as wel l as constant and variable resistance (and optionally a patent duct) a re essential features of the NMC system. To show the investigational p otential, we studied the influence of venoarterial and venovenous ECMO on the NMC performance during normal circulation, hypovolemia, high a rterial resistance, the combination of both, and in low cardiac output , By assessing the significant effects of ECMO on the circulatory func tion of the NMC, its feasibility and investigational properties could be demonstrated.