Percutaneous venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: initial clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia raises core body temperature by extracorporeal heating of the blood. Five patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma stage IV (4.4+/-1 months after initial diagnosis) received venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia to 42.5 degrees C (core temperature) to assess technical and patient risks. METHODS: After general anesthesia and systemic heparinization (activated clotting time > 300 seconds), percutaneous cannulation of the right internal jugular vein (15F) for drainage and common femoral vein (15F) for reinfusion allowed extracorporeal flow rates up to 1,500 mL/min (20 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) with the ThermoChem System. This device uses charcoal-based sorbent for electrolyte homeostasis. Six monitored sites (rectal, bladder, tympanic x2, nasopharyngeal, and esophageal) determined average core temperature. RESULTS: All patients achieved a core target temperature of 42.5 degrees C for 2 hours. Electrolyte balance was maintained throughout hyperthermia (mean) in mmol/L: Na+, 136.2+/-2.2 mmol/L; K+, 4.0+/-0.3 mmol/L; Ca2+, 4.1+/-0.2 mg/dL; Mg2+, 1.9+/-0.1 mg/dL; PO4-, 4.5+/-0.9 mg/dL). Plasma cytokine concentration revealed significant heat-induced activation of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cascades. All patients exhibited systemic vasodilation requiring norepinephrine infusion, 4 of 5 patients required vigorous diuresis, and 3 of 5 required intubation for 24 to 36 hours because of pulmonary edema or somnolence, with full recovery. Average length of hospital stay was 5.4 days. Serial tumor measurements (1 patient withdrew) revealed a decrease (64.5%+/-18%) in tumor size in 2 patients, no change in 1, and enlargement in 1, with no 30-day mortality. Median survival after hyperthermia treatment was 172 days (range, 40 to 271 days). CONCLUSIONS: Venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia is feasible and provides the following potential advantages for better tumoricidal effect: (1) homogeneous heating, and (2) a higher sustained temperature.

Veno-venous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia: case report with perfusion considerations.

Cancer cells are more susceptible to destruction by heat than are their normal counterparts. However, optimization of this hyperthermic susceptibility for selective cancer cell kill has been difficult to define and technically difficult to achieve. A whole-body hyperthermic technique veno-venous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia (VV-PISH) was designed in in vitro and in swine experiments to achieve selective hyperthermic cancer cell destruction. In this case report, VV-PISH is studied for its safety and therapeutic efficiency in a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved phase-I study, where hyperthermia is used to treat advanced (Stage III B or IV) lung cancer. VV-PISH, utilizing the ThermoChem HT system in an extracorporeal circuit, was used to induce hyperthermia to 42.5 degrees C sustained for 120 min. Cooling returned the body temperature to 37 degrees C. After completion of the treatment, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit on a ventilator, norepinephrine and diuretics. The patient remained somnolent for 36 h, developed pulmonary congestion requiring an additional 48 h before extubation, was transferred to the intermediate unit on day 4 and discharged in good condition on day 8. He did experience hyperthermia-related shrinkage of his lung cancer; however, he succumbed 270 days after this treatment from further progression of this disease. Hyperthermia is not a benign therapy; management techniques have been developed that have ameliorated many of the problems associated with extremely high temperatures, but pathophysiology still exists. Using these techniques, VV-PISH can be safety implemented, albeit not without temporary sequelae and further hospitalization.

Quantitative assessment of a circulating depolarizing factor in shock.

Sustained depolarization of cell membranes and cellular edema are known to accompany various forms of circulatory shock and probably contribute to hypovolemia and cellular dysfunction. It has been proposed that a circulating protein is responsible for these effects. In the present study we have confirmed the existence of a circulating depolarizing factor (CDF) in hemorrhagic shock, burn shock, sepsis, and cardiopulmonary bypass. Plasma samples from pigs or sheep in shock were quantitatively assayed for depolarizing activity using a microelectrode method on rat diaphragm in vitro. The depolarizing effect of CDF in vitro was similar in magnitude to that of shock in situ. We conclude that CDF can entirely account for membrane depolarization during shock. The depolarizing effect of CDF was dose-dependent and saturable; it could be reversed by rinsing the diaphragm with Ringer's or control plasma. CDF activity was detectable in plasma within 5 min after a severe scald and gradually increased over the next 25 min. Resuscitation of hemorrhaged pigs, but not burned sheep, eliminated plasma CDF activity.

Safety and efficacy of a heparin removal device: a prospective randomized preclinical outcomes study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic protamine sulfate for heparin reversal after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with uncommon, but life-threatening adverse reactions. METHODS: In a prospective randomized 3-day outcomes study, a heparin removal device (HRD) group (n = 12; 60-, 80-, 100-kg subgroups) was compared with a matched systemic Protamine group (Protamine; n = 6) for safety and efficacy using an adult swine model of CPB (60 minutes, 28 degrees C). RESULTS: HRD run time was 25 to 38 minutes depending on weight without complications. After HRD, heparin concentration decreased from 4.77 +/- 0.17 to 0.45 +/- 0.06 U/mL (activated clotting time [ACT] 776 +/- 83 to 180 +/- 12 seconds), and in Protamine, 3.94 +/- 0.63 to 0.13 +/- 0.02 U/mL (ACT 694 +/- 132 to 101 +/- 5 seconds) (p = 0.01 between groups, but no significant differences 60 minutes later). No significant difference between HRD and Protamine to 72 hours was seen in plasma-free hemoglobin C3a, heparin concentration, thromboelastogram index, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, anti-thrombin III, fibrinogen, ACT, and tissue histology. CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective randomized outcomes study, HRD achieved predictable reversal of systemic heparinization after CPB with no difference in safety or outcomes compared with protamine.

Venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia: hemodynamics, blood flow, and thermal gradients.

BACKGROUND: Thermal events during extracorporeal venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia (VV-PISH) were studied and related to determination of whole-body and regional thermal isoeffect doses. METHODS: Swine (n = 6, 77+/-4.5 kg) were heated to a target temperature of 43 degrees C for 120 minutes using VV-PISH. Colored microspheres were injected during preheat, heat induction, maintenance, cool down, and after decannulation. The esophageal, tympanic, rectal, pulmonary artery, bladder, bone marrow, kidney, brain, blood, lung, and airway temperatures were recorded continuously. The thermal dose, thermal exchange, metabolic heat production, heat loss to the environment, the change in body heat, and the thermal isoeffect dose were studied at 15-minute intervals. RESULTS: VV-PISH increased heart rate and cardiac output and caused a redistribution of blood flow favoring the thoracoabdominal organs. Greatest thermal exchange occurred during the heating phase (total 2,162+/-143 kJ), metabolic heat production contributed in all phases (274+/-9 kJ), the greatest change in body heat occurred during heating (1,310+/-309 kJ) with a total delivered thermal dose of 298+/-21 kJ, and the total whole body thermal isoeffect dose at 100+/-5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: VV-PISH is feasible, is capable of transferring sufficient heat, causes a redistribution of blood flow favoring the thoracoabdominal organs, and facilitates calculation of whole-body and regional thermal isoeffect doses.

Oncogenic ras results in increased cell kill due to defective thermoprotection in lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The survival response of normal cells to heat stress is an upregulation of heat shock proteins and ras protein activation. We hypothesized that in lung cancer cells the presence of oncogenic ras interferes with thermoprotective mechanisms resulting in cell death. METHODS: An equal number of lung tissue culture cells (normal and cancerous) were subjected to either heat stress and then recovery (43 degrees C for 180 minutes, 37 degrees C for 180 minutes) or recovery alone (37 degrees C for 360 minutes). End points were surviving number of cells, cell-death time course, heat shock protein (HSP70, HSC70, HSP27) expression before and after heat stress, and time course for HSP70 expression during heat stress and recovery. Heated cells were compared with unheated control cells, then this difference was compared between cell types. RESULTS: Heat stress in normal cells caused an 8% decrease in cell number versus a 78% +/- 5% decrease in cancer cells (p < 0.05). In normal cells, heat stress caused a 4.4-fold increase in HSP70, no change in HSC70, and a 1.7-fold increase in HSP27. In contrast, cancer cells initially contained significantly less HSP70 (p < 0.05), and there was a 27-fold increase in HSP70 and a 2-fold increase in HSC70 with no HSP27 detected (comparison significant, p < 0.05). HSP70 time course in normal cells showed that HSP70 increased 100-fold, reaching a vertex at 2 hours and remaining elevated for 24 hours; in cancer cells, HSP70 maximum expression (100-fold) peaked at 5 hours,,then decreased to slightly elevated at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer cells with oncogenic ras have defective thermoprotective mechanism(s) causing increased in vitro cell death, which provides an opportunity for thermal treatment of lung cancer.

Technique of controlled reperfusion of the transplanted lung in humans.

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion injury remains a significant and sometimes fatal problem in clinical lung transplantation. Controlled reperfusion of the transplanted lung using white cell-filtered, nutrient-enriched blood has been shown recently to significantly ameliorate reperfusion damage in a porcine model. We modified this experimental technique and applied it to human lung transplantation. METHODS: Approximately 1,500 mL of arterial blood was slowly collected in a cardiotomy reservoir during the lung implant, and mixed to make a 4:1 solution of blood:modified Buckberg perfusate. This solution was passed through a leukocyte filter and into the transplant pulmonary artery for 10 minutes, at a controlled rate (200 mL/min) and pressure (less than 20 mm Hg), immediately before removal of the vascular clamp. RESULTS: Five patients underwent lung transplantation (1 bilateral, 4 single lung) using this technique. All patients were ventilated on a 40% fraction of inspired oxygen within a few hours and extubated on or before the first postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled reperfusion of the transplanted lung with white cell-filtered, nutrient-enriched blood has given excellent functional results in our small initial clinical series.

Development of a human to murine orthotopic xenotransplanted lung cancer model.

The goal was to develop a clinically relevant animal model that could be used to assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in lung cancer. Two cell lines, noncancerous control (BEAS2-B, immortalized human bronchial-epithelial cell line) and cancerous (BZR-T33, H-ras transformed BEAS2-B) were implanted into nude (athymic) mice. Two groups (n = 10 each) received dorsoscapular subcutaneous injection of 10(6) cells from either cell line. BEAS2-B cells were nontumorigenic, whereas mice with BZR-T33 cells had tumors (9,510 +/- 4,307 mm3) confirmed by histology, and a significantly smaller body weight (BZR-T33, 28.5 +/- 0.49 vs. BEAS2-B, 30.7 +/- 0.75 g, p < .05). The next phase evaluated invasion/metastasis. Two groups (n = 10 each) received 10(6) cells from either cell line injected into tail veins. Animals receiving BZR-T33 cells had a smaller body weight, palpable lung masses (67%), obvious tail masses (44%), and average tumor burden (1,120 +/- 115 mm3), and histology revealed invasion of lung tissue and interstitial hemorrhage. In development of the orthotopic xenotransplanted model, mice (2 groups, n = 10 each) received 10(6) cells from either cell line implanted into the lungs through a tracheotomy. Animals with BZR-T33 cells did not survive past 59 days and had a smaller body weight, increased lung weight, lung masses (100%), and metastatic loci (30%). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the presence of masses in intubated live mice, later confirmed by histology. In summary, the H-ras transfected cell line developed lung masses following tail-vein injection and endotracheal seeding. Evaluation by MRI allows for a comprehensive model with significant potential in the study of lung cancer.

Significant reduction in circuit pressure with modified plasma separation chamber for a heparin removal device.

The heparin removal device (HRD), using plasma separation and poly-L-lysine (PLL) affinity adsorption, has been shown to be an effective alternative to protamine after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Previous designs of the HRD used standard Luer-Lok ((phi = 2.3 mm) port connections between the extracorporeal tubing and the plasma separation chambers, which resulted in excessively high circuit pressures (> 750 mm Hg) at an HRD flow of 1,400 ml/min. To reduce circuit pressures, we enlarged the connection ports to phi = 4.2 mm, keeping other circuit components and sorbent amounts unchanged. The modified circuit HRD was divided into the SMALL PORT group (phi = 2.3 mm, A = 4.15 mm2) and the LARGE PORT group (phi = 4.2 mm, A = 13.85 mm2) in adult swine (70+/-5 kg) given 300 U/kg heparin. A dual lumen cannula was inserted into the right atrium and connected to the HRD. Inlet pressure ranged from 749+/-42 to 795+/-57 mm Hg in the SMALL PORT group during the HRD run at 1,400 ml/min, whereas it ranged from 345+/-5 to 372+/-34 mm Hg in the LARGE PORT group (p < 0.01 between groups). Likewise, the chamber pressure ranged from 447+/-21 to 452+/-27 mm Hg in the SMALL PORT group and from 190+/-14 to 204+/-19 mm Hg in the LARGE PORT group (p < 0.01 between groups). There were no significant differences in ACT between groups. We conclude that enlarged chamber ports significantly lower circuit pressures for the HRD without changing heparin removal capability.

Extracorporeal heparin adsorption following cardiopulmonary bypass with a heparin removal device--an alternative to protamine.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and applicability of a heparin removal device (HRD) based on plasma separation and poly-L-lysine (PLL) affinity adsorption as an alternative to protamine in reversing systemic heparinization following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Adult female swine (n=7). INTERVENTIONS: Female Yorkshire swine (n=7, 67.3+/-3.5 [SEM] kg) were subjected to 60 mins of right atrium-to-aortic, hypothermic (28 degrees C) CPB. After weaning from CPB, the right atrium was recannulated with a two-stage, dual-lumen cannula which was connected to an HRD via extracorporeal circulation. Blood flow was drained at 1431.2+/-25.4 mL/min from the inferior vena cava, through the plasma separation chamber of the HRD (where heparin was bound to PLL), and reinfused into the right atrium. The HRD run time was determined by a previously established mathematical model of first-order exponential depletion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, central venous pressure, kaolin and celite activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), heparin concentration, and plasma free hemoglobin were obtained before, during, and after the use of the HRD. Pre-CPB ACT was 167+/-89 secs (kaolin) and 99+/-7 secs (celite), and APTT was 34+/-5 secs. The HRD run time averaged 27.4 +/-1.5 mins targeted to remove 90% total body heparin. Use of the HRD was not associated with any adverse hemodynamic reactions or increases in plasma free hemoglobin. The heparin concentration immediately following CPB was 4.85+/-0.24 units/mL, with ACT >1000 secs and APTT >150 secs in all animals. During heparin removal, total body heparin content followed first-order exponential depletion kinetics. At the end of the HRD run, heparin concentration decreased to 0.51+/-0.09 units/mL, with kaolin ACT returning to 177+/-22 secs, celite ACT returning to 179+/-17 secs, and APTT returning to 27+/-3 secs (p > .05 vs. pre-CPB baseline for all variables). CONCLUSIONS: The HRD is capable of reversal of anticoagulation following CPB without significant blood cell damage or changes in hemodynamics. The HRD, therefore, can serve as an alternative to achieve heparin clearance in clinical situations where use of protamine may be contraindicated.

Acute normovolemic red cell exchange for cardiopulmonary bypass in sickle cell disease.

A patient with sickle cell disease (hematocrit, 28.5%; hemoglobin S fraction, 79%), required mitral valve repair. Partial red cell removal and blood component sequestration with an autotransfusion device before cardiopulmonary bypass initially decreased the sickle red cell mass. This was followed by an acute one-volume whole blood exchange transfusion performed upon the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, resulting in a further reduction. Both techniques yielded fresh autologous plasma for use; sequestration yielded a platelet-pheresis product. Adequate postbypass hemostasis was demonstrated.

Heparin clearance profiles after systemic anticoagulation using a heparin removal device system.

An extracorporeal heparin removal device system (HRDS) based on plasma separation and affinity adsorption has been developed to reduce the risks of protamine-related adverse reactions. The heparin clearance profile of the HRDS was characterized by the first-order exponential depletion. A mathematical model was established to predict the time to achieve 85% heparin removal for different body weights at 700 ml/min and 1400 ml/min extracorporeal HRDS blood flow. With an HRDS flow of 700 ml, 85% of total body heparin removal cannot be achieved within 30 min for subjects greater than 50 kg. With an HRDS flow of 1400 ml/min, 85% heparin removal can be achieved within 32 min for subjects larger than 90 kg. Such model predictions were validated in an adult swine (n = 10) model of 60-min, hypothermic (28 degrees C) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Animals were given 300 U/kg intravenous heparin and 5000 U heparin in the circuit prime for initial heparinization, with subsequent heparin given to maintain activated clotting time above 450 sec. Immediately following CPB, plasma heparin concentration as determined by anti-factor Xa assays was 4.40 +/- 1.08 U/ml in the 700 ml/min group and 4.78 +/- 0.70 U/ml in the 1400 ml/min groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Target HRDS flow was 700 ml/min for animals below 75 kg and 1400 ml/min for animals above 75 kg. The mean body weight in the 1400 ml/min group (81.4 +/- 3.7 kg) was significantly higher than that in the 700 ml/min group (67.2 +/- 2.2 kg) (p < 0.05), with the actually achieved HRDS flow 658.5 +/- 20.8 and 1437.4 +/- 30.1 ml/min, respectively. During the HRDS run, plasma heparin concentration followed the predicted first-order exponential depletion (r2 = 0.97 for the 700 ml/min group and r2 = 0.99 for the 1400 ml/min group). In the 700 ml/min group, the time needed to achieve 85% heparin clearance was over 40 min, whereas in the 1400 ml/min group, this time was reduced to less than 30 min despite greater body weight. At 30 min on HRDS, the 700 ml/min group had 27.4 +/- 3.7% heparin left in the plasma, whereas the 1400 ml/min group had only 12.6 +/- 2.5% (p < 0.05). The authors conclude heparin clearance by the HRDS can be precisely predicted with the mathematical model of first-order exponential depletion. Increasing the HRDS flow can effectively reduce the time needed to achieve a targeted heparin removal.

Parallel dialysis normalizes serum chemistries during venovenous perfusion induced hyperthermia.

Whole-body hyperthermia is currently under investigation as a method to treat systemic malignancies; however, available techniques induce a derangement in serum and urine chemistries. This study was done to determine whether veno-venous perfusion induced hyperthermia (vv-PISH) that incorporated a parallel dialysis system to control blood chemistries would eliminate these heat induced derangements. Adult female Yorkshire swine were divided into perfusion only (group P, n = 6, 62.8 +/- 2.5 kg), and perfusion with dialysis (group PD, n = 6, 63.8 +/- 4.3 kg). In both groups, hyperthermia was induced with a computer assisted jugular-to-femoral venovenous heat exchange/perfusion system primed with a balanced electrolyte solution, operating at 30 ml/min-1/kg-1, which used a thermal gradient induced by blood heated to a maximum of 48 degrees C and a perfusate-to-blood temperature gradient < 10 degrees C during heating. The target core temperature was 43 degrees C for 120 min as measured by the average of the rectal, bladder, esophageal, bilateral tympanic, and pulmonary artery temperatures. Including ramp-up and cool down, the total perfusion interval was 263 +/- 29 min in group P and 240 +/- 18 min in group PD (ns). Serum and urine chemistry values expressed as the mean value +/- SEM were compared before and after hyperthermia treatment. Variables include blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, glucose, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), creatinine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma free hemoglobin, urine specific gravity, pH and urine creatinine. All variables remained within normal ranges for the PD group. In the P group, the following final values were outside the normal range: (normal range) creatinine 2.1 +/- 1 (0.4-1.4) mg/dl, Ca2+ 5.1 +/- 1 (6-13) mg/dl, Mg2+ .8 +/- 0.1 (1.2-10) mg/dl, ALKP 134 +/- 6 (34-122) U/L, ALT 69 +/- 3 (9-51) U/L, and LDH 1291 +/- 237 (300-600) U/L. We conclude that the significant changes in serum and urine chemistries associated with vv-PISH are normalized with the use of a parallel dialysis system and may decrease the incidence of electrolyte associated complications.

Efficacy of a heparin removal device in comparison with protamine after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

To reduce the risks of protamine reactions after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), a heparin removal device (HRD) with plasma separation and poly-L-lysine (PLL) affinity adsorption was developed. To compare the efficacy of HRD with that of protamine, blood coagulation variables were evaluated in a swine model of CPB. Female Yorkshire swine were randomly divided into the HRD group (n = 6, weight 79.7 +/- 7.0 kg) and the protamine group (n = 6, weight 79.3 +/- 6.8 kg), and subjected to 60 min of right atrium-to-aortic, hypothermic (28 degrees C) CPB. After weaning from CPB, the right atrium was recannulated with a two-stage, dual lumen cannula in the HRD group. Blood flow was drained from the inferior vena cava, through the plasma separation chamber of the HRD where heparin was bound to PLL, and re-infused into the right atrium. The HRD run time was determined by an established mathematical model of first-order exponential depletion targeted to 90% heparin removal. In the protamine group, protamine was given in a 100 U heparin to 1 mg protamine ratio after CPB in a slow intravenous infusion. Hemodynamics, activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and heparin concentration were obtained before, every 5 min during, and after the use of the HRD or before and after protamine administration, and 1 and 3 hours after HRD or protamine. Heparin concentration immediately after CPB was 4.90 +/- 0.19 U/ml in the HRD group and 3.94 +/- 0.63 U/ml in the protamine group, respectively (p > 0.05 between groups). The ACT was 994 +/- 7 sec in the HRD group and 768 +/- 55 sec in the protamine group, and APTT was greater than 150 sec in both groups (p > 0.05 between groups). In the HRD group, the HRD run time was determined to be 31.5 +/- 2.4 min for the targeted 90% heparin removal, and the plasma heparin concentration followed first-order depletion kinetics. In the protamine group, the full dose of protamine was administered over 15 min. Immediately after the HRD run or protamine administration, plasma heparin concentration decreased to 0.48 +/- 0.09 U/ml in the HRD group and 0.13 +/- 0.02 U/ml in the protamine group (p < 0.01 between groups); likewise, ACT decreased to 188 +/- 25 sec in the HRD group and 101 +/- 5 in the protamine group (p < 0.01 between groups). The APTT was not significantly different between the groups at any time during the experiment. Plasma heparin concentration and ACT were not significantly different three hours after the HRD run or protamine administration. The authors conclude that the HRD is capable of predictable reversal of systemic heparinization after CPB, and is an alternative to achieve heparin clearance in subjects who may develop adverse reactions to protamine.

Therapeutic hyperthermia.

Those diseases that medicines do not cure, are cured by the knife, and those diseases that the knife cannot cure are cured by fire. And those diseases that fire does not cure are to be reckoned wholly incurable.

Adverse effects of postoperative infusion of shed mediastinal blood.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative infusion of shed mediastinal blood has been used in an effort to decrease blood usage after cardiac operations. Recent experience has suggested that this practice may actually lead to a delayed increase in bleeding. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized study, 40 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with shed mediastinal blood collected in a cardiotomy reservoir were divided into two equal groups and studied during their first 4 hours in the intensive care unit. Shed mediastinal blood was directly infused in group I (n = 20), whereas in group II (n = 20), it was not. In group II, if a sufficient volume of red cells was present to allow processing (n = 5), washed red cells were infused. Variables studied before and after infusion were the amount of blood lost and infused, homologous blood transfused, complete blood count and differential, serum fibrinogen, fibrin split products, D-dimers, clotting factors, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thromboelastograms, plasma-free hemoglobin, complement factors C3 and C4, creatine kinase and its MB isoenzyme, and body temperature. RESULTS: After infusion of shed mediastinal blood, elevated levels of fibrin split products and D-dimers were found in significantly more patients in group I. The thromboelastogram index was normal in 76% of patients in group II but in only 12.5% in group I. Group I also had an increase in band neutrophils, a greater number of febrile patients, higher serum levels of creatine kinase, its MB isoenzyme, and plasma-free hemoglobin, and greater blood loss during hours 3, 4, and 5 in the intensive care unit. The volume of red cells in shed mediastinal blood (hematocrit, 9% to 10%) was small, resulting in clinically insignificant autotransfusion when infused directly, and insufficient for cell processing in most patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data support those in previous studies that direct infusion of shed mediastinal blood does not save substantial amounts of autologous red cells and can cause a delayed coagulopathy and other adverse effects that may be harmful to patients postoperatively.

Induction of whole body hyperthemia with venovenous perfusion.

Whole body hyperthermia can be used for the treatment of metastatic cancer and human immunodeficiency virus infections. The therapeutic effects of hyperthermia are dependent upon the actual temperature of the target tissues. Therefore, homogeneous distribution of heat and precise control of temperature gradients is critical. To describe heat distribution during hyperthermia induced by venovenous perfusion, the authors used multiple channel temperature monitoring and a servo-regulated perfusion/heat exchange system. Young swine were randomly assigned to either a heated group (perfusion-induced hyperthermia, target core temperature at 43 degrees C, n = 6), or a control group (perfusion alone, target core temperature at 38 degrees C, n = 6). Blood was drained from the external jugular vein, heated with a computer assisted heat exchange system, and reinfused through the femoral vein at a flow of 10 ml/kg-1/min-1. Temperature probes in the esophagus, right and left tympanic canals, brain, pulmonary artery, arterial and venous blood, rectus spinae muscle, kidney, rectum, bone marrow, bladder, subcutaneous tissue, gluteus, and skin were simultaneously recorded. During the heat induction phase, the maximum water temperature was 54 degrees C, with a heating gradient of the blood (blood in-blood out) at 6 degrees C. The maximum temperature difference between tissues was 3.6 degrees C (kidney and esophagus) during heat induction, but decreased to 1.75 degrees C during maintenance. Bone marrow temperature was consistently 1-2 degrees C below the average core temperature of 43 degrees C throughout the experiment. The authors conclude that venovenous perfusion can predictably induce hyperthermia, but is associated with heterogenous temperature distribution among organs. Further studies are necessary to evaluate different perfusion and heating patterns to achieve homogenous hyperthermia.

Gut mucosal ischemia during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass results from blood flow redistribution and increased oxygen demand.

Impaired gut mucosal perfusion has been reported during cardiopulmonary bypass. To better define the adequacy of gut blood flow and oxygenation during cardiopulmonary bypass, we measured overall gut blood flow and ileal mucosal flow and their relationship to mucosal pH, mesenteric oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption in immature pigs (n = 8). Normothermic, noncross-clamped, right atrium-to-aorta cardiopulmonary bypass was maintained at 100 ml/kg per minute for 120 minutes. Animals were instrumented with an ultrasonic Doppler flow probe on the superior mesenteric artery, a mucosal laser Doppler flow probe in the ileum, and pH tonometers in the stomach, ileum, and rectum. Radioactive microspheres were injected before and at 5, 60, and 120 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass for tissue blood flow measurements. Overall gut blood flow significantly increased during cardiopulmonary bypass as evidenced by increases in superior mesenteric arterial flow to 134.1% +/- 8.0%, 137.1% +/- 7.5%, 130.3% +/- 11.2%, and 130.2% +/- 12.7% of baseline values at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes of bypass, respectively. Conversely, ileal mucosal blood flow significantly decreased to 53.6% +/- 6.4%, 49.5% +/- 6.8%, 58.9% +/- 11.6%, and 47.8% +/- 10.0% of baseline values, respectively. Blood flow measured with microspheres was significantly increased to proximal portions of the gut, duodenum and jejunum, during cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas blood flow to distal portions, ileum and colon, was unchanged. Gut mucosal pH decreased progressively during cardiopulmonary bypass and paralleled the decrease in ileal mucosal blood flow. Mesenteric oxygen delivery decreased significantly from 67.0 +/- 10.0 ml/min per square meter at baseline to 42.4 +/- 4.6, 44.9 +/- 3.5, 46.0 +/- 3.6, and 42.9 +/- 3.9 ml/min per square meter at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes of bypass. Despite the decrease in mesenteric oxygen delivery, mesenteric oxygen consumption increased progressively from 10.8 +/- 1.4 ml/min per square meter at baseline to 13.4 +/- 1.2, 15.9 +/- 1.2, 16.7 +/- 1.4, and 16.6 +/- 1.54 ml/min per square meter, respectively. We conclude that gut mucosal ischemia during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass results from a combination of redistribution of blood flow away from mucosa and an increased oxygen demand.