COMPARISON OF NONPULSATILE VERSUS PULSATILE ECLS (TPL-STM)

PURPOSE OF STUDY The study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of Korean pulsatile ECLS (Twin Pulse Life Support system: TPLSTM) to those of nonpulsatile ECLS. METHODS USED An acute heart failure model was constructed in twelve piglets by using a pulmonary artery banding technique. The animals were divided into two groups: In group I, a centrifugal pump (Medtronic, co.) was used as a control (n = 6). In group II, a dual-pulse ECLS (TPLS) system was used as an experiment (n=6). The bypass circuit contained a membrane oxygenator, and the right atrium and the aorta were bypassed for two hours under 2 L/min of pump flow. SUMMARIZED RESULTS Pulmonary artery banding lowered systolic blood pressure to 60 mmHg or less. During the bypass, systolic pressure was maintained 103±20 mmHg in group I and 103±20 mmHg in group II (P=NS). Central venous pressure was 8±3 mmHg in group I and 7±5 mmHg in group II (p=NS). The plasma free hemoglobin level showed 19±9 mg% in group I and 15±2 mg% in group II. The peak pressure at the inlet of a membrane oxygenator was 190 mmHg in group I and 230 mmHg in group II. Systemic oxygenation throughout the bypass period was not different between the groups. We believe the Korean dual-pulsatile system (TPLSTM) can be safely applied as an ECLS for the treatment of acute heart failure.