A 2007 survey of extracorporeal life support members: personnel and equipment.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to support patients with cardiopulmonary failure in the intensive care unit. The purpose of this study is to determine what professional qualifications, equipment, and tests are used by established ECMO programs registered with the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). A survey link (Survey-Monkey) was e-mailed to the 110 registered ELSO program coordinators.

Mitral valve replacement in a patient with sickle cell disease using perioperative exchange transfusion.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic hemoglobinopathy in which a significant number of red blood cells carry hemoglobin-S as opposed to normal red blood cells that contain hemoglobin-A. Under certain conditions such as hypoxia, acidosis, and hypothermia, the red blood cells containing hemoglobin-S will sickle, leading to occlusion of the microvasculature. As such, patients with sickle cell disease present unique challenges during heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Temperature inaccuracies during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cerebral hyperthermia caused by perfusate temperature greater than 37 degrees C during the rewarming phase of CPB has been linked to postoperative neurologic deficits. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the coupled temperature measurement system and the CDI 500 arterial temperature sensor. Seventeen patients undergoing CPB were divided into four groups, each with a different temperature probe coupled to the oxygenator.