Biomaterial Database

Early experience with the minimal extracorporeal circulation system (MECC) during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. 2004

D Palombo, and D Valenti, and A Gaggiano, and M Lupo, and P Borin

Department of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases, Vascular Surgery Unit, Mauriziano Hospital, Largo Turati, 62, Turin I-10128, Italy.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this report is to describe our early experience with a minimal extracorporeal circulation system (MECC), a compact closed heparin coated system consisting of a centrifugal pump and a membrane oxygenator, during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. METHODS Between January and December 2002 the MECC system was employed in seven consecutive patients (four TAAA type II, two TAAA type I and one TAAA type III according to the Crawford classification). In all patients distal aortic, selective renal and visceral perfusion was performed with this compact closed heparin coated system consisting of a centrifugal pump and a membrane oxygenator. RESULTS The MECC system was used in all cases with no technical malfunctions. Six out seven patients were discharged from the unit. One patient developed paraplegia after TAAA repair and died on the third post-operative day from multi-organ failure. In this case the total spinal ischaemic time was 120 min and the distal aortic perfusion pressure was <50 mmHg. No cardiac, cerebral, renal, hepatic or bleeding complications were recorded in the remaining six patients. CONCLUSIONS Our early experience with MECC during TAAA repair showed that it is feasible for distal aortic spinal and visceral selective perfusion. Further large clinical trials are required to determine the efficacy of this technique.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010107	Oxygenators, Membrane	Devices in which blood and oxygen are separated by a semipermeable membrane, generally of Teflon or polypropylene, across which gas exchange occurs. The membrane may be arranged as a series of parallel plates or as a number of hollow fibers; in the latter arrangement, the blood may flow inside the fibers, which are surrounded by gas, or the blood may flow outside the fibers and the gas inside the fibers. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Membrane Oxygenator,Membrane Oxygenators,Oxygenator, Membrane
D005112	Extracorporeal Circulation	Diversion of blood flow through a circuit located outside the body but continuous with the bodily circulation.	Circulation, Extracorporeal,Circulations, Extracorporeal,Extracorporeal Circulations
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D017544	Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal	An abnormal balloon- or sac-like dilatation in the wall of the ABDOMINAL AORTA which gives rise to the visceral, the parietal, and the terminal (iliac) branches below the aortic hiatus at the diaphragm.	Abdominal Aorta Aneurysm,Aneurysm, Abdominal Aorta,Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm,Aneurysm, Abdominal Aortic,Abdominal Aorta Aneurysms,Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms,Aorta Aneurysm, Abdominal
D017545	Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic	An abnormal balloon- or sac-like dilatation in the wall of the THORACIC AORTA. This proximal descending portion of aorta gives rise to the visceral and the parietal branches above the aortic hiatus at the diaphragm.	Aneurysm, Thoracic Aorta,Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm,Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm,Aneurysm, Thoracic Aortic,Aorta Aneurysm, Thoracic,Thoracic Aorta Aneurysms,Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms