Cardiopulmonary bypass

Published on 13/02/2015 by admin

Filed under Anesthesiology

Last modified 22/04/2025

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Cardiopulmonary bypass

David J. Cook, MD and Eduardo S. Rodrigues, MD

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) replaces heart and lung function during cardiopulmonary arrest. The basic features of the circuit are a pump, an oxygenator, and venous return and arterial inflow lines. A heat exchanger and a blood reservoir are also essential elements.

Cardiopulmonary bypass circuit structure

A right atrial or bicaval cannula is the source for drainage of blood into the venous reservoir. Blood exits the reservoir, goes to a pump (roller or centrifugal), and is pumped through an oxygenator (typically hollow fiber), most of which have integrated heat exchangers. For hollow-fiber oxygenators, the PaO2 is determined by the FIO2 of the fresh-gas flow passing countercurrent through the hollow fibers; the PaCO2 is determined by the total gas flow rate though the oxygenator. The pressurized oxygenated blood then typically passes through an arterial line filter before entering the aortic cannula (usually placed in the proximal aorta).

Additional features of the CPB circuit include several monitors of temperature and oxygenation, a cardioplegia delivery system, and a means for cardiotomy suctioning and ventricular venting.

The general practice of cardiopulmonary bypass

Nonpulsatile flow (2.0-2.5 L·min−1·m−2) is based on the cardiac index under anesthesia in non-CPB conditions. The flow rate may also be expressed as mL·kg−1·min−1. The most recent literature suggests that mild to moderate hypothermia more close to the normal range (i.e., 28° C-35° C) reduces the incidence of low cardiac output syndromes without an attendant increase in neurologic complications.

Moderate normovolemic hemodilution should be maintained. The literature, comprising primarily retrospective data, suggests that increased complication rates (neurologic, cardiovascular, and renal) occur when the hematocrit is less than 20% to 23%. However, other data suggest that “treating” this anemia with transfusion of red blood cells may worsen outcomes. It is likely that CPB-related anemia is a function of the prebypass period and, therefore, primarily a marker of greater comorbidity instead of being an independent determinant of adverse outcome.

A mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 60 to 80 mm Hg should be maintained. Even with moderate hypothermia, cerebral autoregulation begins to fail below a cerebral perfusion pressure of 50 to 55 mm Hg. In patients with a history of hypertension or peripheral vascular disease, keeping the MAP at a minimum of 70 mm Hg reduces the incidence of adverse cardiac and neurologic outcomes. A practical way to calculate the goal MAP during CPB is to use the patient’s age as a goal for MAP in patients older than 60 years of age.

Monitoring the adequacy of perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass

Systemic o2 saturation

Mixed venous O2 saturation (SimageO2) reflects venous O2 content, i.e., the amount of O2 left in the venous blood after systemic O2 requirements are met. Although SimageO2 does not measure either imageO2 or image, it does provide an index of the adequacy of their matching. As such, SimageO2 monitoring conveys extremely valuable information as to the interaction among systemic O2 requirements, pump flow, arterial O2 content, hematocrit level, and temperature. An SimageO2 above 65% generally indicates a satisfactory margin of safety for systemic oxygenation. A higher saturation is indicated during hypothermia given that hypothermia increases the O2 affinity of hemoglobin.

In-line hemoglobin or hematocrit monitors are available and are usually coupled to the SimageO2 detector. Temperature monitoring is performed in three areas: the venous line (reflecting the adequacy of whole body cooling or warming), the arterial inflow line, and the heat exchanger, where temperature should not exceed 38.5°C. Optional arterial in-flow line-monitoring devices are available to monitor gases (PaO2, pH, PaCO2, base deficit, and temperature).