title: Portable mechanical circulatory support: human experience with the LIFEBRIDGE system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to demonstrate the safety and functional performance of the LIFEBRIDGE B2T system (Medizintechnik GmbH, Ampfing, Germany), a novel portable life support system, during human applications under controlled conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The LIFEBRIDGE system was used as a modular closed-circuit miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass system for total support of circulation and gas exchange in a series of 8 elective coronary artery bypass grafting procedures using normothermic cardioplegic arrest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean blood flow rates provided by the LIFEBRIDGE system were 4.82±0.47 L/min throughout the procedures (ie, 100% of calculated normal blood flow). Adequate gas exchange and arterial oxygenation were provided at all times. All patients survived the operations with no neurologic sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LIFEBRIDGE system provides sufficient circulatory support and gas exchange during cardiac arrest and apnea, which are the maximum stress conditions for a life support system. It is anticipated that the system will be widely used as a circulatory support system in future applications that require portability and rapid delivery of short-term mechanical circulatory support, such as with cardiogenic shock.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany. buz@dhzb.de
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buz
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jurmann
authors.forename: Ekkehard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gutsch
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jurmann
authors.forename: Andreas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hetzer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D011859:Radiography; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome