Goal-Directed Perfusion Methodology for Determining Oxygenator Performance During Clinical CPB

Al Stammers, MSA, CCP
Director of Clinical Quality and Outcomes Research
July 28, 2016

SpecialtyCare associates have conducted numerous research studies that have used data obtained as part of the quality improvement process. One such study, “Goal-Directed Perfusion Methodology for Determining Oxygenator Performance During Clinical Cardiopulmonary Bypass,” evaluates three oxygenators currently in clinical use and reflects how information collected by perfusionists could be utilized to provide new information to bridge gaps in knowledge when an absence of quality data is encountered.

The oxygenator study was undertaken at a hospital performing less than 200 cardiac surgical cases per year with an operative team of two perfusionists, two cardiac surgeons, two anesthesiologists, and three physician assistants. In addition, there were four operating room nurses and approximately 10 intensive care unit nurses who managed postoperative care.

The results demonstrated that newer generation oxygenators with integrated arterial filters performed better (gas transfer, postoperative transfusion rate) than an older generation oxygenator with an external arterial line filter. The data collected prospectively did not originate from a randomized clinical trial, so interpretation of the results needs to be undertaken with caution. Nevertheless, the information obtained does provide a foundation that can be used to generate future studies to further address the question.

You can access the abstract in the Clinical Research & Innovation section of our Resource Library. The information was originally presented at the 37^th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion (AACP) in Savannah, GA, in February 2016.

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Update: The full paper is available in v. 49, no. 2 of The Journal of ExtraCorporeal Technology.

Al Stammers

Alfred H. Stammers, MSA, CCP, is SpecialtyCare’s Director of Clinical Quality and Outcomes Research. He focuses on advancing clinical quality through innovation and data analyses that identify industry trends and develop safer, more effective practices and techniques for cardiovascular surgery and patient care. Prior to SpecialtyCare, Al worked for ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute and Geisinger Health Systems, where he served as Director of Perfusion Services. He has been actively engaged with AmSECT since 1985, holding a variety of significant leadership positions. Al speaks regularly to international audiences, and has over 300 publications on perfusion-related topics.