Management of continuous venous gas emboli during extracorporeal life support utilizing the Kolobow gas trap

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with a roller pump system uses a closed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit not equipped with a venous reservoir. Hence, gas emboli cannot escape the ECLS circuit, predisposing to clot formation, membrane failure and potential gas embolism. Rarely, some patients m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Perfusion 2004-01, Vol.19 (5), p.301-304
Main Authors: Faulkner, Sherry C, Johnson, Charles E, Tucker, Juan, Schmitz, Michael L, Drummond-Webb, Jonathan J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advanced Cardiac Life Support - adverse effects
Advanced Cardiac Life Support - instrumentation
Child, Preschool
Embolism, Air - prevention & control
Equipment Design
Extracorporeal Circulation - adverse effects
Extracorporeal Circulation - instrumentation
Female
Humans
Infant
Treatment Outcome
Veins
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Summary:Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with a roller pump system uses a closed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit not equipped with a venous reservoir. Hence, gas emboli cannot escape the ECLS circuit, predisposing to clot formation, membrane failure and potential gas embolism. Rarely, some patients may develop a continuous release of gas into the venous circulation from multiple sources. Two pediatric ECLS cases are presented with continuous venous gas embolism. A ‘gas trap’ was devised by creating a column of fluid erected vertically on the venous line. This allowed gas to rise within the column, separating it from the ECLS circuit, thus, preventing gas from lodging in the membrane.
ISSN:0267-6591
1477-111X
DOI:10.1191/0267659104pf756oa