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Related Experiment Videos

Centrifugal pump failures.

J Kolff1, R N Ankney, D Wurzel

  • 1Department of Surgery, Temple University/Conemaugh's Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15905, USA.

The Journal of Extra-Corporeal Technology
|August 5, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Centrifugal pumps are generally safe for medical procedures. However, malfunctions or human errors can cause retrograde flow and air embolization, with preventative valves available.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Centrifugal pumps are widely used in cardiopulmonary bypass.
  • Their non-occlusive design prevents gross gaseous emboli passage.
  • Retrograde flow can occur due to malfunctions, low flows, or human error.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and causes of retrograde flow and air embolization with centrifugal pumps.
  • To assess the safety and failure rates of centrifugal pumps based on FDA and survey data.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) malfunction reports for centrifugal pumps.
  • A survey distributed to Society of Thoracic Surgeons' members regarding centrifugal pump usage and issues.
  • Examination of reported malfunctions, including complete failures, electrical issues, and speed surges.

Main Results:

  • FDA data: 68 malfunctions, 22 electrical burning smells, 3 speed surges in 350,000 cases (1 in 3,763 failure rate).
  • FDA data: 5 deaths and 3 serious injuries reported.
  • Survey data: 21% of respondents reported 108 malfunctions, including 46 complete pump failures.
  • Survey data: 21% of respondents reported instances of perfusionists forgetting to clamp the pump line, causing backflow.

Conclusions:

  • Centrifugal pumps are generally safe but susceptible to retrograde flow and air embolization.
  • Malfunctions, low flow conditions, and human errors are primary causes.
  • Preventative valves can be integrated into bypass circuitry to mitigate these risks.

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