MAST system: a new condensed cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for adult cardiac surgery

There have been many refinements in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) techniques over the past few decades specific to design, materials and function. Desp ite these improvements, use of the standard length circuit tubing and pump oxygenator alter cellular, biochemical and rheological properties by induci ng a systemic inflammatory response, persisting well into the early postope rative phase. We have designed a new condensed CPB circuit, the MAST system, where the ox ygenator and the pumps are brought closer to the operating table (within 30 inches) with the help of a series of telescopic swivel steel poles to whic h they are attached. The control console is retained at the usual remote lo cation of 2 ft behind the MAST system. This configuration accomplishes a de crease in tubing length, priming volume and blood circulatory time within t he extracorporeal circuit. Early experience of a hundred consecutive cases utilizing the MAST CPB system is presented along with a comparative analysi s of prime volume, hemodilution and transfusion parameters of MAST system v s the low prime system, which is another newly developed CPB circuit utiliz ing a pediatric oxygenator to reduce prime volume and hemodilution.