Impact of a remote pump head on neonatal priming volumes

Reduction of priming volumes of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit in neonatal cardiac surgery to decrease haemodilution and blood transfusion requirements can be achieved with the use of neonatal low prime oxygenators and smaller diameter tubing. We have further reduced our prime volume with the use of a custom-designed arm allowing for remote positioning of a double-headed roller pump. This arm enables the double pump to be placed alongside the main heart-lung machine close to the operating table, and to position the pump inlet and outlet tubing immediately at the reservoir outlet and oxygenator inlet, respectively, therefore reducing tubing lengths. Priming volumes of four cases using this configuration were compared to four cases using our standard neonatal bypass setup. Results showed a 29% decrease in priming volume and a 58% reduction in blood utilization during CPB. This reduction in priming volume is clinically significant as it lowers the ratio of priming volume to patient blood volume and reduces homologous blood requirements.