Electrostatic potential generated during extracorporeal pump prime circulation before cardiopulmonary bypass initiation.

The development of electrostatic potentials generated during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures using polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubing in conjunction with roller pumps has been previously documented. The resulting damage from the electrostatic discharge (ESD) has been reported to affect gas transfer devices, but details of potential damage to electronic components commonly used during extracorporeal circulation have not been similarly described. The purpose of this study was to measure the ability of a triboelectric potential to be generated from a primed, circulating, adult CPB pump before the initiation of CPB.