An in vitro Comparison of Intra-Operative Isohemagglutinin and Human Leukocyte Antigen Removal Techniques in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

This study compared two plasmapheresis techniques, membrane-based (MP) and centrifuge-based (CP), for their effectiveness in reducing isohemagglutinin titers (IT) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies in highly sensitized pediatric patients awaiting heart transplants. Both methods, incorporated into extracorporeal circuits, effectively reduced circulating antibodies, with CP showing slightly greater efficiency in reducing ITs and anti-HLA class II antibody mean fluorescence intensity, although further in vivo studies are needed for confirmation.

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ECMO CPT2

Direct and Continuous Dosing of Propofol can Saturate Ex vivo ECMO Circuit to Improve Propofol Recovery

This study investigates the adsorption of propofol in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits, noting that drugs prescribed to ECMO patients often lack optimized dosing strategies due to the circuit’s ability to adsorb drugs. It found that while only 27% of propofol was recovered after a bolus dose, more than 80% was recovered following a continuous infusion, suggesting direct dosing into ECMO circuits could mitigate altered drug exposure due to adsorption.

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Our Initial Experience of Monitoring the Autoregulation of Cerebral Blood Flow During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

This study investigates the application of the cerebral oxygenation index (COx) in monitoring cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation during cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries. Despite the complexity and challenges involved, the study emphasizes the critical analysis of COx, highlighting limitations and suggesting caution before its implementation in clinical practice.

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HL Machine

Comparison of 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 and Ringer’s Lactate as Priming Solutions in Patients Undergoing Isolated Open Heart Valve Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

This study compared the outcomes of heart valve surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with two different priming solutions: 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 and ringer’s lactate (RL). The results indicate that using HES in addition to RL for priming increased the risk of blood product transfusion during hospitalization compared to using RL alone in this patient population.

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