Evaluation of a new magnetically suspended centrifugal neonatal pump in healthy animals using a veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation configuration.

Background: The objective of this animal study was to evaluate the hemodynamic performance of a new centrifugal pump for extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in neonates.

Methods: Six healthy swines were supported with veno-venous ECMO with the New Born ECMOLife centrifugal pump (Eurosets, Medolla, Italy) at different flow rates: 0.25, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8 L/min; three animals were evaluated at low-flows (0.25 and 0.5 L/min) and three at high-flows (0.6 and 0.8 L/min). Each flow was maintained for 4 hours. Blood samples were collected at different time-points. Hematological and biochemical parameters and ECMO parameters [flow, revolutions per minute (RPM), drainage pressure, and the oxygenator pressure drop] were evaluated.

Results: The increase of the pump flow from 0.25 to 0.5 L/min or from 0.6 to 0.8 L/min required significantly higher RPM and produced significantly higher pump pressures [from 0.25 to 0.5 L/min: 1470 (1253-1569) versus 2652 (2589-2750) RPM and 40 (26-57) versus 125 (113-139) mmHg, respectively; < .0001 for both - from 0.60 to 0.8 L/min: 1950 (1901-2271) versus 2428 (2400-2518) RPM and 66 (62-86) versus 106 (101-113) mmHg, respectively; < .0001 for both]. Median drainage pressure significantly decreased from -18 (-22; -16) mmHg to -55 (-63; -48) mmHg when the pump flow was increased from 0.25 to 0.5 L/min ( < .0001). When pump flow increased from 0.6 to 0.8 L/min, drainage pressure decreased from -32 (-39; -24) mmHg to -50 (-52; -43) mmHg, ( < .0001). Compared to pre-ECMO values, the median levels of lactate dehydrogenase, d-dimer, hematocrit, and platelet count decreased after ECMO start at all flow rates, probably due to hemodilution. Plasma-free hemoglobin, instead, showed a modest increase compared to pre-ECMO values during all experiments at different pump flow rates. However, these changes were not clinically relevant.

Conclusions: In this animal study, the "New Born ECMOLife" centrifugal pump showed good hemodynamic performance. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate biocompatibility of this new ECMO pump.