A wet-primed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit with hollow-fiber membrane oxygenator maintains adequate function for use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation after 2 weeks on standby.

Objective: To assess the durability of wet-preprimed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits for potential use in resuscitation after a 2-wk period of storage.

Design: Experimental laboratory study.

Setting: Tertiary care pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.

Plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) release in wet-primed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits.

A wet-primed ready-to-use extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit is used in some centres for rapid deployment of ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Yet, the potential release of plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) from the polyvinyl chloride tubing in the circuit during storage is a concern. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the concentration of DEHP in the priming solution (Plasmalyte) from an ECMO circuit stored for up to 14 days at 8 degrees C.