SMART tubing presents an increased risk of disconnection during extracorporeal circulation.
A number of products exhibiting biocompatible features have been developed for use in extracorporeal blood circuits during cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. While attention has been focused on biocompatibility features of the blood-circuit interface, a number of issues applicable in clinical use of these circuits have arisen. Surface Modifying Additive Technology (SMART; Cobe Cardiovascular, Arvarda, CO) is one such technology. In this product, the structure of normal polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubing is altered through the blending of two copolymers to give a more biocompatible blood to plastic interface. In this study, we examined the in vitro mechanical ability of random samples (n = 10) of SMART and standard PVC tubing to withstand axial tension when the tubing was placed over a single barb of a connector. The tension required to remove the SMART tubing from the connector (83.3 +/- 7.3 [SD] N), was significantly less than standard PVC tubing (115.6 +/- 15.9 N; p < .0001, unpaired t test). The SMART tubing exhibited a 28% reduction in tubing to connector adhesion, which may have a significant effect on extracorporeal circuit disconnection and overall patient safety.
Newling
Ross
R
Perfusion Department, St. George Hospital, Sydney, Australia. newlingr@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Morris
Richard
R
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007440:Intubation; D008422:Materials Testing; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013718:Tensile Strength
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride