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Extracorporeal circuit sterility after 168 hours.
W V Young1, C H Heemsoth, G Georgiafandis
1Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee, Department of Perfusion, Knoxville 37920, USA.
The Journal of Extra-Corporeal Technology
|November 3, 1997
Summary
Extracorporeal circuits (ECC) assembled for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can remain sterile for up to seven days. This finding supports reusing ECCs to reduce waste and costs, provided no deliberate contamination occurs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Perfusion Technology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Proper assembly of the extracorporeal circuit (ECC) is critical before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
- Concerns exist regarding ECC sterility after setup if procedures are canceled, balancing nursing compliance with economic impact.
- Existing literature on ECC sterility over extended periods is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sterility of an ECC with an open reservoir oxygenator over a seven-day period.
- To determine if ECCs can be safely maintained sterile for reuse after initial setup.
Main Methods:
- Collected 792 bacterial cultures from three distinct sites within the ECC.
- Incubated cultures to assess for bacterial growth over seven days.
- Assessed sterility under the assumption of no deliberate contamination.
Main Results:
- No positive bacterial cultures were observed throughout the seven-day study period.
- ECCs maintained sterility for the entire duration of the evaluation.
- The study demonstrated the potential for extended sterility of assembled ECCs.
Conclusions:
- Assembled ECCs in an unused operating room setting can remain sterile for up to seven days.
- Reusing ECCs is a viable option, potentially mitigating economic losses and waste.
- Further research may explore different oxygenator types and contamination scenarios.