The Journal of extra-corporeal technology
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Sep 2005
Case ReportsTransfusion-free cardiopulmonary bypass in Jehovah's Witness patients weighing less than 5 kg.
Performing cardiac surgery on pediatric Jehovah's Witness patients is a great challenge for the surgical team and especially for the perfusionist. Jehovah's Witnesses reject blood transfusions on the grounds of their literal interpretation of passages of the Bible. In accordance with this belief, Jehovah's Witnesses feel that it is also forbidden to retransfuse autologous blood that has been separated from their own circulatory system. ⋯ Pre-CPB hemoglobin levels were 10.8 g/dL, 10.6 g/dL, and 8.5 g/dL. The hemoglobin concentrations measured during CPB ranged from 5.9 to 6.5 g/dL, 6.4 to 6.8 g/dL, and 5.5 to 5.9 g/dL, respectively. The patients did not receive any blood or blood products during their entire hospital stay.
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Sep 2005
Use of bivalirudin as an anticoagulant during cardiopulmonary bypass.
Bivalirudin is a short-acting direct thrombin inhibitor that has been used in cardiac surgical patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) or suspected HIT. Although no direct thrombin inhibitor is indicated for anticoagulation during cardiac surgery in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) or suspected HIT, use of heparin-alternatives are increasing as the awareness of HIT increases. ⋯ Although the reported clinical experience with bivalirudin in cardiac surgery is reviewed, operative techniques for the perfusionist/surgeon team are discussed in detail. We recognize that the use of bivalirudin during cardiopulmonary bypass is evolving and modifications of technique will undoubtedly occur as further data and experience accumulate.
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Sep 2005
A description of a prototype miniature extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit using current technologies in a sheep model.
In the United States, standardization of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit was achieved during the 1980s. Since that time, the consoles and components of the ECMO circuit have remained fundamentally unchanged (bladder, rollerpump, silicone membrane oxygenator). Extracorporeal technology, however, has witnessed many significant advancements in components during the past two decades. ⋯ This ECMO circuit design departs dramatically from the typical North American systems. The use of this console and components facilitated a 70% reduction in priming volume over a traditional ECMO circuit. Further investigations should be conducted to determine if circuit miniaturization can reduce the morbidity associated with blood product consumption and the bloods contact with the artificial surfaces of the ECMO circuitry.
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Jun 2005
ReviewGeneral anesthesia in cardiac surgery: a review of drugs and practices.
General anesthesia is defined as complete anesthesia affecting the entire body with loss of consciousness, analgesia, amnesia, and muscle relaxation. There is a wide spectrum of agents able to partially or completely induce general anesthesia. Presently, there is not a single universally accepted technique for anesthetic management during cardiac surgery. ⋯ Although many of the agents highlighted in this review are capable of producing more than one of these effects, it is logical that drugs producing these effects are given in combination to achieve the most beneficial effect. This review features a discussion of currently used anesthetic drugs and clinical practices of general anesthesia during cardiac surgery. The information in this particular review is derived from textbooks, current literature, and personal experience, and is designed as a general overview of anesthesia during cardiac surgery.
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Jun 2005
Cardiopulmonary bypass in conscious patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of thoracic epidural anesthesia as an alternative technique to general anesthesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. Seventeen patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass without general anesthesia under thoracic epidural anesthesia from February to May 2004. ⋯ None of the patients required conversion to general anesthesia. There was no mortality or morbidity in this series and to our knowledge our series is the first such. Cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass may be conducted under thoracic epidural anesthesia, without endotracheal general anesthesia.