Defining pulsatile perfusion: quantification in terms of energy equivalent pressure

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular physiology
• Biomedical engineering
• Surgical technology

Background:

• Clinical and animal studies suggest pulsatile perfusion offers advantages over nonpulsatile perfusion during extracorporeal circulation.
• Conflicting research findings and a lack of precise definition for pulsatile flow contribute to ongoing debate regarding its benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the controversy surrounding the benefits of pulsatile perfusion during extracorporeal circulation.
• To propose a standardized method for quantifying pulsatile flow to facilitate consistent assessment.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing clinical and animal studies on pulsatile vs. nonpulsatile perfusion.
• Introduction of the concept of energy equivalent pressure for quantifying pulsatile flow.
• Identification of arterial pressure and pump flow rate as critical parameters for open heart surgery.

Main Results:

• The energy equivalent pressure formula incorporates both arterial pressure and pump flow rate.
• This definition provides common criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of extracorporeal support.

Conclusions:

• Quantifying pulsatile flow using energy equivalent pressure can help resolve the debate on its benefits.
• Standardized assessment criteria are crucial for understanding the effectiveness of extracorporeal support systems.