Use of a membrane oxygenator for open-heart surgery in infants

Because use of the bubble oxygenator during open-heart surgery is associated with complications such as hemolysis, pulmonary insufficiency and oliguria, a membrane oxygenator was used in conjunction with hypothermia in 37 infants. The main features of the oxygenator are gravitational blood flow, oxygenation into an airless, collapsible blood reservoir, low-flow roller pump flow back to the patient, accurate determination of flows and careful use of a heat exchanger. Gas flow (98% oxygen, 2% carbon dioxide) for the unit of 2 m2 is maintained at 3 to 4 1/min. Specific precautions are taken to ensure absence of bubbles. Three prime solutions are used, the final one having an osmolality of 381 mOsmol and containing 129.9 meq of sodium, 3.8 of potassium and 94.0 of chloride and 2001 mg/dl of glucose. Six patients died, but none of the deaths could be directly related to the use of the oxygenator. Respiratory complications were minimal, as were other complications. The technique is reliable in oxygenating blood in an tracorporeal circulation, but further familiarity with the membrane oxygenator for use in open-heart surgery in infants is desirable before firm conclusions can be drawn as to its value.