Testing of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit related hemolysis using long-term stored packed red cells and fresh frozen plasma.
BACKGROUND
The resistance of blood used in these studies to hemolysis differs markedly from that used in neonatal extracorporeal circulation under clinical circumstances. In this study, the possibility of using expired packed red cells to determine hemolysis caused by mechanical and/or environmental factors was investigated.


METHODS
Packed red blood cells stored for 42 days were mixed with fresh frozen plasma and the resultant mixture was divided into three groups, two study groups and a control. For the study groups, two different centrifugal pump heads (Medtronic BP 50 and Jostra RF 32) were used in an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit. Free hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, lactic acid, pH, potassium, and glucose were investigated at various time intervals.


RESULTS
Hemolysis did not differ between the groups. Free hemoglobin increased in all groups after 12 h. Lactic acid increased linearly in all groups up to 12 h. Glucose and pH decreased steadily in all groups. Hemolysis created during mock ECMO did not differ between the circuits using the two different pump heads noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Human donor blood stored up to its expiration date is a feasible medium for mock circulation tests of up to 12 h duration under the circumstances described.
Burda
Gudrun
G
Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria. gudrun.burda@akh-wien.ac.at
Trittenwein
Hildegard
H
Carole
Hamilton
H
Trittenwein
Gerhard
G
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D010949:Plasma; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase