Microporous polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenator with a built-in heat exchanger

Abstract

The microporous polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenator with a built-in heat exchanger was used for open heart surgery in 162 patients. Gas exchange performances of the oxygenator were excellent and pressure drop was in an acceptable range.
Although heat exchange coefficient of the heat exchanger was excellent, there was time delay of blood temperature change in the arterial line, when the heat exchanger was situated in the venous line.
Time constant of blood temperature change in the arterial line was 1.5±0.3 times longer than that just after the heat exchanger.