ABSTRACT
Ultrafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass for open heart surgery was done in a group of infants and children in Cairo University Pediatric Hospital. The study group included 25 patients aged 20 days to 12 years with body weight ranging from 2.5 kg to 40 kg. The patients were classified into 3 groups: Group I, included 10 patients without ultrafiltration, group II, included 10 patients for whom ultrafiltration was done using the st and ard circuit and group III, included 5 patients with modified circuit for ultrafiltration. The effect of ultrafiltration on organ performance and on blood elements was assessed. The study found ultrafiltration during and after cardiopulmonary bypass caused marked decrease in the amount of water accumulation in the lung and heart resulting in better cardiopulmonary performance. Hemofiltration also prevented hemodilution resulting in better RBC platelet and coagulation factor concentration