Case report

Use of the Bio-Medicus“ Pump in Conjunction with the Argyle Gott™ TDMAC Shunt During Repair of an Atherosclerotic Aneurysm of the Descending Thoracic Aorta

¹ Extracorporeal Technologies Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
² Medical City Dallas, Dallas, TX 75234
³ Humana Hospital, Abilene, Texas 79606

Abstract

A Bio-Medicus™ pump with a model 600 cone and flow probe was used in combination with an Argyle Gott™ TDMAC shunt on a patient suffering from an atherosclerotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. After a simple set-up and priming procedure with Normosol™ R (pH 7.4), the circuit was connected to the patient and partial bypass was initiated. Perfusion flows were maintained at approximately 1.2 liters/min/M² • Activated clotting times were maintained at 150-250 seconds.

Upon completion of the surgical procedure, partial bypass was terminated with no difficulty to the patient. There was no evidence of fibrin formation in the circuit. Post-bypass and post-operative courses were uneventful. Because of the ease of set-up and increased flexibility of controlling flow rates through the shunt, we recommend consideration of this technique for repairs of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms.