Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
In Vitro Thrombosis Test for Ventricular Assist Devices
Published on: March 21, 2025
Magnetic levitation pump versus constrained vortex pump: a pilot study on the hemolysis effect during minimal
Ignazio Condello1, Giuseppe Santarpino2,3,4, Giuseppe Filiberto Serraino4
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, GVM Care & Research, Perfusion Service, Anthea Hospital, Via Camillo Rosalba 35/37, 70124, Bari, Italy. ignicondello@hotmail.it.
Background:
Elevated plasma free hemoglobin is associated with multi-organ injury. In this context, minimally invasive extracorporeal technologies represent a way to reduce this complication following cardiac surgery.
Methods:
We present a pilot study focused on plasma free hemoglobin levels in 40 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The same circuits for minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) were used in all patients. The ECMOLIFE magnetic levitation pump was used in the study group (n = 20), and the AP40 Affinity CP centrifugal blood pump was used in the control group (n = 20).
Results:
In the immediate postoperative period, plasma free hemoglobin (PFH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (10.6 ± 0.7 vs 19.9 ± 0.3 mg/dL, p = 0.034; and 99.16 ± 1.7 vs 139.17 ± 1.5 IU/L, p = 0.027, respectively). Moreover, patients treated with the magnetic levitation pump showed lower creatinine and indirect bilirubin (0.92 vs 1.29 mg/dL, p = 0.030 and 0.6 ± 0.4 vs 1.5 ± 0.9 mg/dL, p = 0.022, respectively) at 24 h after the procedure, and received fewer transfusions during the whole postoperative period (3 vs 9 red blood cell units (RBC), p = 0.017).
Conclusion:
Our pilot study suggests that the use of magnetically levitated centrifugal pumps for extracorporeal circulation support is associated with a lower risk of hemolysis, though larger studies are warranted to confirm our results.
