[Preliminary study of intravascular oxygenator in braid in vitro]

Intravenous membrane oxygenator (IVOX), an artificial lung usually located in vena caval system, can provide extra oxygen outside the lung for patients suffering from respiratory failure. However, gas exchange areas of IVOX are limited because of confined space in caval system. The increase of the diameter of IVOX may impede the return of venous blood to heart, and result in serious low blood pressure. Thus, it is important to increase the efficiency of IVOX by reducing the diffusive resistance of boundary layers. In the present study, the hollow member fiber of IVOX was weaved in braids; we tested the oxygen transfer efficiency and blood flow resistance of this IVOX in vitro. The results showed that the total transferred oxygen, the oxygen transfer rate and blood resistance increased with the increase of blood flow. The oxygen volume transferred by the IVOX and the oxygen transfer rate were (55.97 +/- 0.51) ml/min and (127.19 +/- 0.66) ml/(min x m)2 respectively at the blood flow of 5 L/min and hemoglobin of 120 g/L. They were significantly higher than those at 4 L/min and 3.5 L/min, respectively. The pressure drop also increased from (11.87 +/- 1.57) cmH2O at 3.5 L/min of blood flow to (18.53 +/- 0.99) cmH2O at 4 L/min and 19.77+/- 0.51 cmH2O at 5 L/min. However, they are safe to the patients (< 20 cmH2O). These results suggest that this braid type of IVOX can safely provide 20%-30% oxygen outside the lung for an adult patient.