2012 Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 151-155
A few cases of blood purification (BP) performed in newborns have been reported in Japan. BP for newborns involves some specific issues, such as priming volume, vascular access, and the effect on hemodynamics. We report on two cases of successful BP in newborns with hyperammonemia. In general, for newborns, the priming volume must be decreased, and we have been using an original circuit specifically designed for newborn BP. The circuit has certain disadvantages, however, such as an uncoordinated alarm system and blood pump. Patient 1 was treated using the original circuit, while a BP system and a circuit of the same manufacturer were used in Patient 2. In the latter case, treatment safety improved with the automated priming, decreased priming volume, and the coordinated alarm system and blood pump. Clinical engineering technologists should further evaluate the safety of BP to increase its use in more newborn patients.
