title: Low-flow veno-venous extracorporeal CO2 removal: first clinical experience in lung transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-flow extracorporeal CO2 removal devices are easy to setup and manage and may provide valuable ventilation support.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a new device (ProLUNG) recently introduced into the clinical arsenal that exploits a simple hemoperfusion technique sustained by blood flows lower than 500 ml/min to remove CO2 from the venous blood. It was used as an adjunctive support to mechanical ventilation during and after four lung transplantations in our center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients with cystic fibrosis, one with pulmonary fibrosis, and one with emphysema were included. They underwent lung transplantation and presented hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis before, during, or after the surgical procedure. After 1 h of treatment with the ProLUNG circuit, all patients showed reduced CO2 levels and increased pH; these variables remained stable until the end of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that this new device is effective in removing CO2 and stabilizing the pH.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruberto
authors.forename: Bartolomeo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bergantino
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Arena
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardinetti
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diso
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Giacomo
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Venuta
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pugliese
mesh_terms: D000142:Acidosis, Respiratory / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D004867:Equipment Design; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006464:Hemoperfusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D002245:Carbon Dioxide