Investigation of the effects of pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion on oxygenator fibers with sem (scanning electron microscop)

Heart must keep working and the blood inside must be drained. During the surgery, devices that would function as heart and lungs are required. These devices are called heart-lung machine. Blood flow of patient and function of heart and lungs must be provided by an artificial method. The device used during the operation is called heart-lung machine or as a more technical term cardiopulmonary bypass machine. Inside heart and lung machine the part in which carbondioxside is exchanged with oxygen is called oxygenator. For most part of cardiac operation the heart-lung machine serves to replace the work of the heart. The machine replaces both the heart?s pumping action and the lung?s gas exchange function. Since the heart is not working during the operation this device allows the surgion to operate on a rather bloodless stationary heart. There are two options in open heart surgery operations, pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion, depending on the condition of the patient and type of the case. Pulsatile blood flow which has higher force than the non-pulsatile one, has several effects to both the patient and oxygenator fiber. The effects of perfusion type on the oxygenator fiber are not extensively studied hence not known. This study is focused on the effects of pulsatile and non-pulsatile flow on heparin coated and non-coated oxygenator fiber. The thickness of adsorbed blood proteins and amount of blood cells on the surface of coated and non-coated oxygenators are inspected with SEM and results are compared. As a result this study presents a comparison of biocompatibility of pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion on heparin coated and non-coated oxygenators.