Abstract
In consecutive 207 patients, we applied “Low-vacuum suction method”, in which sucking and venting the blood during cardiopulmonary bypass are performed using the hard shell venous reservoir with a low negative pressure. A little unstability of negative pressure in the reservoir, which was sometimes found during running of cardiopulmonary bypass, scarcely affects holding blood level in it. The blood level in the reservoir immediately responded to the blood volume with the short suction circuit, which makes it easy to handle cardiopulmonary bypass. In the case of using several suction circuits concurrently, suction tubes should be turned on and off in the operating field. A roller pump suction method was employed in the control group. Serum hemoglobin, haptoglobin, platelet count, platelet aggregation were measured in each group. Increase of serum hemoglobin and haptoglobin in the group with “Low-vacuum suction method” were significantly smaller than those in the control group. Platelet count and platelet aggregation did not show significant difference. It was concluded that “Lowvacuum suction method” can reduce hemolysis during CPB.
