title: Emergency management of heat exchanger leak on cardiopulmonary bypass with hypothermia.
abstract: Heat exchanger leak on cardiopulmonary bypass is very rare, but serious. The exact incidence is not known. It is an emergency associated with the potential risk of blood contamination, air embolism and haemolysis, difficulty with re-warming, acidosis, subsequent septic shock, multi-organ failure and death. We present a prompt, highly co-ordinated algorithm for the successful management of this important rare complication. There is need for further research to look for safety devices that detect leaks and techniques to reduce bacterial load. It is essential that teams practice oxygenator change-out routines and have a well-established change-out protocol.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK gukop@doctors.org.uk.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gukop
authors: Department of Clinical Perfusion Science, St George's Hospital NHS trust, London, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tiezzi
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mattam
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sarsam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: cardiopulmonary bypass; heat exchanger; heat exchanger failure; leak on cardiopulmonary bypass