Availability of negative pressure suction during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

We have developed a low negative pressure suction system, in which cardiotomy suction is performed by the negative pressure of the venous reservoir controlled by a negative pressure controller. In this study, a clinical availability and hemocompatibility of a negative pressure suction in CPB system are evaluated on a randomized prospective study. Eighty patients underwent aortocoronary bypass grafting were assigned. Forty patients with a negative pressure suction system (Group B) were compared with forty with a conventional roller pump suction system (Group A). A group B reduces hemolysis showing lower plasma free hemoglobin level (56.6 ± 28.1 vs. 84.6 ± 33.9 at 60 min after CPB, p<0.05), higher plasma haptoglobin levels (37.8 ± 36.6 vs. 77.2 ± 31.3 at 120 min after CPB, p<0.05) and lower blood LDH levels (1390.6 ± 496.5 VS 972.3 ± 186.5, p<0.01) using a negative pressure suction was slightly better than other (395.9 ± 48.3 vs 436.7 ± 42.7, p=0.069), however, there were no significant differences of intubation time between groups. A negative pressure suction system provides sufficient hemocompatibility for the blood to reduce hemolysis significantly and simplifies and miniaturizes the whole CPB system.