Original Article

Intermittent Failure of a Stockert/Shiley Multiflow Roller Pump Module

St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut

^* Address correspondence to: Ronald J. Massimino, 28 Hebron Road, Bolton, CT 06043

Abstract

Pump failures are an inherent problem associated with the operation of a heart lung machine. This report details the observation and identification of an unusual modular pump failure. Pump stoppage occurred intermittently over a period of two months with two separate Stockert/Shiley Computer Aided Perfusion System (CAPS) consoles. The mechanism was identified as a static discharge transferred to the module by a perfusion record clipboard. Electrical testing revealed that all modules could be stopped with a simulated static charge between 2 kilovolts (kV) and 25 kV. A sub-normal relative humidity in the operating room was a contributing factor but did not eliminate the problem when levels were returned to normal. Clinical engineering test results were forwarded to the manufacturer with recommendations. Preventive measures by this institution were adopted to reduce static discharge failure.