Clinical evaluation of the novel Capiox NX19 adult oxygenator-a multicenter study.

Introduction: The novel Capiox NX19 adult oxygenator is, compared to its predecessors, improved with enhanced air removal technology, a polymer heat exchanger and smaller, innovative hollow fibers resulting in a surface area reduction and a lower priming volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NX19 oxygenator performance in a clinical setting.

Methods: A prospective multicenter study was performed involving three large European university hospitals.

Dynamic oxygenator blood volume during prolonged extracorporeal life support.

Current methods for identification of oxygenator clotting during prolonged extracorporeal life support include visual inspection, evaluation of oxygenator resistance and oxygen exchange performance, and assessment of clotting-related laboratory parameters. However, these observations do not provide a quantitative assessment of oxygenator clot formation. By measuring changes in the dynamic oxygenator blood volume this study aimed to evaluate the relation to oxygenator resistance and oxygen transfer performance.

Oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and decreased kidney function after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Introduction: Low oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass is related to a range of adverse outcomes. Previous research specified certain critical oxygen delivery levels associated with acute kidney injury. However, a single universal critical oxygen delivery value is not sensible, as oxygen consumption has to be considered when determining critical delivery values.

Contemporary Oxygenator Design: Shear Stress-Related Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transfer.

Design of contemporary oxygenators requires better understanding of the influence of hydrodynamic patterns on gas exchange. A decrease in blood path width or an increase in intraoxygenator turbulence for instance, might increase gas transfer efficiency but it will increase shear stress as well. The aim of this clinical study was to examine the association between shear stress and oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer in different contemporary oxygenators during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).