Comparison of pulsatile and non-pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass on regional renal blood flow in sheep.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on sheep regional renal blood flow by comparing pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion at two different flow rates.

Design: Seven female Suffolk sheep were used and the animals were perfused with pulsatile and non-pulsatile CPB at flow rates of 60 and 100 ml/min/kg. Regional renal blood flow was measured by the colored microsphere method.

Short exposure time sensitivity of white cells to shear stress.

White cells are a critical functional element circulating in blood. This study sheared fresh whole bovine blood in stainless steel and polymeric capillary tubes of various lengths and diameters. Flow rate was constant, resulting in a range of exposure times and shear stresses.

Model analysis of tissue responses to transient and chronic heating.

Thermal models are used to analyze responses of muscle and lung tissue to transient (30-45 min) and chronic (4-7 week) heating in vivo. The general bioheat model, which describes one-dimensional temperature dynamics, incorporates heat conductance and perfusion. In general, perfusion changes with time and distance from a heated surface.

In vivo evaluation of the biocompatibility of the totally implantable ventricular assist device (HeartSaver VAD).

A series of multicenter in vivo studies have been conducted to assess the biocompatibility and device performance of the HeartSaver VAD, a totally implantable pulsatile ventricular assist device (VAD). The experiments (n = 23) were conducted in calves with a mean weight of 101 (75-152) kg. Implants took place at four centers using two different surgical procedures of implantation (one with cardiopulmonary bypass and one without).

Laparoscopic inferior vena cava and right atrial thrombectomy utilizing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Background And Purpose: Surgery for renal cancer associated with a level III or IV tumor thrombus often involves cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia, and exploration of the right atrium and inferior vena cava (IVC). This major open operation necessitates a large median sternotomy incision and a midline abdominal or chevron incision. Herein, we investigate the feasibility of purely laparoscopic IVC and right atrial thrombectomy utilizing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.