Original Article

Perfusate Temperature Variation in the Extracorporeal Circuit

The Departments of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and Pediatric Cardiology United Hospitals Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey

^* Direct communications to: Eileen Heldmann, Department of Pediatric C-V Surgery, 15 S. 9th Street, Newark, New Jersey 07107

Received: May 1981
Accepted: August 1981

Abstract

During twelve consecutive pediatric open-heart procedures utilizing the Harvey 1500 oxygenator with internal temperature probe ports, temperatures were simultaneously measured from the oxygenator and the perfusion line. An observation is presented of varying emperatures as measured within the extracorporeal circuit. During these clinical runs and an in-vitro study, temperature measurements obtained from the oxygenator’s internal ports yielded values which varied predictably from those obtained in the perfusion line. Ambient temperature proved to have a measurable effect on metal in-line probe jackets, although residual differences existed after insulation.