We developed a new silicone hollow fiber membrane oxygenator (SHMO) for long term extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO). SHMO was compared with another type, a silicone coil membrane oxygenator (MMO-6) with regard to blood damage during 24 hours veno-arterial bypass in dogs. The following results were obtained. (1) Scanning electron microscopy showed that membrane surface of MMO-6 after perfusion was covered with platelete aggregates, fibrin nets, red cells, and white cells, but the surface of SHMO was not covered with any blood components. (2) Plasma hemoglobin was increased at the rate of 7.5mg/dl/hr in MMO-6 group, but in SHMO group maximum value was 45mg/dl. Scanning electron microscopy of red cells revealed less morphological change in SHMO group. (3) Platelet counts and ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy were much preserved in SHMO group. These findings reveal that SHMO is the excellent membrane oxygenator for long term ECMO.
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