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Published on: May 11, 2018
Pump-induced haemolysis: a comparison of short-term ventricular assist devices
1Cardiac Surgical Unit, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. martin.bennett@rch.org.au
Insights
Centrifugal pumps, like the Rotaflow, show less blood damage (hemolysis) than roller pumps during prolonged use. The Rotaflow is suitable for short-term ventricular assist devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Devices
- Hemodynamics
Background:
- Centrifugal pumps are increasingly used in medical devices.
- Pump-induced hemolysis is a critical factor in device performance and patient safety.
- Roller pumps have historically been used but may cause significant hemolysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the hemolytic properties of a standard roller pump with two centrifugal pumps (Biomedicus BP 50 and Jostra Rotaflow).
- To evaluate the suitability of the Jostra Rotaflow for short-term ventricular assist applications.
Main Methods:
- An in vitro test circuit was established for each pump type.
- Circuits were operated for a six-day period, with experiments repeated five times.
- Plasma hemoglobin levels were measured to quantify hemolysis.
Main Results:
- The standard roller pump exhibited significantly higher hemolysis compared to both the Biomedicus BP 50 (p = 0.022) and the Jostra Rotaflow.
- A statistically significant difference in hemolysis was observed between the Biomedicus BP 50 and the Jostra Rotaflow on day six (p = 0.016).
- The Jostra Rotaflow demonstrated lower hemolysis levels than the Biomedicus BP 50.
Conclusions:
- Newer generation centrifugal pumps, such as the Jostra Rotaflow, offer reduced hemolysis compared to traditional roller pumps.
- The Jostra Rotaflow is a viable and potentially superior option for short-term ventricular assist due to its lower hemolytic profile.
Abstract:
Centrifugal pumps are superior to roller pumps for extended support durations in terms of pump-induced haemolysis. In this study, we evaluated the commonly used Biomedicus BP 50 and compared it with the Jostra Rotaflow and a standard roller pump in an in vitro test circuit. Each circuit was run for a six-day period and repeated five times. Plasma haemoglobin values showed the roller pump to become more haemolytic than the Biomedicus (p = 0.022) and the Rotaflow. A statistically significant difference between the Biomedicus and the Rotaflow was observed on day six of the trial (p = 0.016), with the Rotaflow showing lower levels of haemolysis than the Biomedicus. These results support the use of the new generation centrifugal pump, the Rotaflow, as a suitable device for short-term ventricular assist.
