The Capiox RX05 oxygenator: pediatric clinical observations.

Terumo Cardiovascular Systems has released the X-Coated Capiox RX05 or Baby RX oxygenator. This oxygenator is designed for neonate and infant patient populations. The device was integrated into our current perfusion practice and our clinical observations are described here. The Baby RX has a prime volume of 43 mL with a maximum flow of 1.5 L/min. The integrated hardshell venous reservoir has independent venous and cardiotomy filters, as well as a very low minimal operating level of 15 mL. A variety of options provide exceptional versatility for the device. The Baby RX proves to be a low-prime, high-flow oxygenator, enabling us to use it on a wide range of pediatric patients. It will be a useful tool for reducing our neonate and infant circuit priming volumes.

Perflubron emulsion reduces inflammation during extracorporeal circulation.

The recovery from cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass can be complicated by an acute inflammatory response. Circulating blood through an extracorporeal circuit (ECC) contributes to this complication. Perfluorocarbon-based blood substitutes (PFCs) are under investigation for use as a component of the ECC "prime" solution, because PFCs increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the diluted blood. Some PFCs may provide the additional benefit of attenuating the ECC-induced inflammatory response. Earlier, we reported that perflubron emulsion (PFE, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.) reduced neutrophil (PMN) activation in vivo. However, the potential of PFE to reduce ECC-induced PMN activation has not been investigated. In this study, we used a small-scale ECC model to quantify the extent of PMN activation during circulation and to examine if PFE treatment attenuated PMN activation. ECC circuits were filled with a mixture of blood and Plasmalyte. Two groups were studied: an untreated group containing blood plus PlasmaLyte and a treated group in which some of the Plasmalyte was substituted with PFE (4.5 g/100 ml). Hematology and measures of whole blood PMN activation were made from blood samples taken periodically throughout the 120-min ECC circulation period. We found, for the untreated group, a significant decrease in the number of circulating PMNs and an increase in PMN activation with time. PMN activation was demonstrated as a significant increase in the expression of the PMN adhesion protein CD11b (P < 0.05) and an increase in PMN oxygen free radical production (reactive oxygen species (ROS)). After 120 min of circulation, the PMNs remained capable of a significant response to a second inflammatory stimulus, but PFE treatment significantly attenuated the fMLP-induced increase in PMN ROS at t = 120 min (P < 0.05). These results suggest that PFE may have dual utility in cardiac surgery, to increase oxygen delivery and to serve as an antiinflammatory agent.