Original Article

A Comparative Study of Five Filtered Cardiotomy Reservoirs

The Christ Hospital, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cincinnati, OH

^* Direct communications to: Peter J. Swanney, Cardiac Surgery, Terre Haute Regional Hospital, 601 Hospital Lane, Terre Haute, IN 47802

Abstract

Five commercially available cardiotomy reservoirs (CR) were tested to determine:

1. Gaseous microemboli removal efficiency

2. Manufacturer contaminant levels

3. Blood hold-up volume

The gaseous microemboli were detected by a doppler type ultrasonic detector. Manufacturer contaminant levels were counted by flushing each CR with filtered water and collecting the contaminants on a filter paper. This was then examined under a light microscope and size and counts were taken. The blood hold-up volume was determined by finding the difference in volume in a cylinder between flowing through the CR and bypassing it.

The lntersept and BST-l CR were found to be significantly more efficient at removing the gaseous microemboli. All the CR had a large number of contaminants which included a particle count range from 10-278 greater than 100 microns. The lntersept CR had less hold-up volume then the others.