Original Articles

A New Evaluation Q-Factor to Be Calculated for Suction Geometries as a Basis for Smooth Suction in the Operating Field to Ensure the Highest Possible Blood Integrity for Retransfusion Systems

^* Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery,
^† Clinic for Nephrology and Rheumatology, and
^‡ Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

Address correspondence to: Ireneusz Iwanowski, PhD, University Medical Center Göttingen: Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen Universitatsmedizin, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, Goettingen, Lower Saxony 37075, Germany. E-mail: irek.iwanowski@med.uni-goettingen.de

Received: 11 October 2021
Accepted: 5 April 2022

Abstract

Blood hemolysis caused by mechanical impact is a serious problem in medicine. In addition to the heart-lung machine (artificial surfaces, flow irritating connection points) which contributes to hemolysis, blood suction and surgical suction devices are influencing factors. Goal of our research is to develop best flow optimizing suction geometry that represents the best compromise between all influencing effects. Based on data that negative pressure and turbulence have a negative impact on blood components, 27 surgical suction tips have been examined for acoustic stress and negative pressure behavior. Furthermore, a dimensionless factor Q was introduced to assess the overall performance of the suction tips investigated.