Silicone-coated polypropylene hollow-fiber oxygenator: experimental evaluation and preliminary clinical use.
BACKGROUND
A membrane oxygenator consisting of a microporous polypropylene hollow fiber with a 0.2-microm ultrathin silicone layer (cyclosiloxane) was developed. Animal experimental and preliminary clinical studies evaluated its reliability in bypass procedures.


METHODS
Five 24-hour venoarterial bypass periods were conducted on dogs using the oxygenator (group A). In 5 controls, bypass periods were conducted using the same oxygenator without silicone coating (group B). As a preliminary clinical study, 14 patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass with the silicone-coated oxygenator.


RESULTS
Eight to 16 hours (mean, 12.2 hours) after initiation of bypass, plasma leakage occurred in all group B animals, but none in group A. The O2 and CO2 transfer rates after 24 hours in group A were significantly higher than at termination of bypass in group B (p < 0.005 and p < 0.03, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy of silicone-coated fibers after 24 hours of bypass revealed no damage to the silicone coating of the polypropylene hollow fibers. In the clinical study, the oxygenator showed good gas transfer, acceptable pressure loss, low hemolysis, and good durability.


CONCLUSIONS
This oxygenator is more durable and offers greater gas transfer capabilities than the previous generation of oxygenators.
Shimono
T
T
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
Shomura
Y
Y
Hioki
I
I
Shimamoto
A
A
Tenpaku
H
H
Maze
Y
Y
Onoda
K
K
Takao
M
M
Shimpo
H
H
Yada
I
I
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D004285:Dogs; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010106:Oxygenators; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012828:Silicones
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012828:Silicones; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen