Performance of a 3-bladed propeller pump to provide cavopulmonary assist in the failing Fontan circulation.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that a propeller pump design would function optimally to provide cavopulmonary assist in a univentricular Fontan circulation.


METHODS
The hydraulic and hemolysis performance of a rigid three-bladed propeller prototype (similar to a folding propeller design) was characterized. Pressure and flow measurements were taken for flow rates of 0.5 to 3 liters per minute (LPM) for 5,000 to 7,000 revolutions per minute (RPM) using a blood analog fluid. Hemolysis testing was performed using fresh bovine blood for 2 LPM at 6,000 RPM for a 6-hour duration.


RESULTS
The prototype performed well over the design operating range by producing a pressure rise of 5 to 50 mm Hg. Plasma free hemoglobin concentration remained less than 15 mg/dL. The normalized index of hemolysis peaked during the first hour, and then remained less than 10 mg/dL thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
A propeller pump has the pressure-flow characteristics and minimal risk of hemolysis and venous pathway obstruction which make it ideal for temporary cavopulmonary assist. This type of device has the potential to provide a new therapeutic option for patients with failing univentricular Fontan physiology as a bridge-to-recovery or transplantation.
Throckmorton
Amy L
AL
Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Ballman
Kimberly K
KK
Myers
Cynthia D
CD
Frankel
Steven H
SH
Brown
John W
JW
Rodefeld
Mark D
MD
D001243:Assisted Circulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000379:methods*; D018610:Heart Bypass, Right / Q000379:methods; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D018785:Tricuspid Atresia / Q000601:surgery