Effect of pulsatility and hemodynamic power on recovery of renal function

PediaFlow™ Maglev Ventricular Assist Device: A Prescriptive Design Approach

This report describes a multi-disciplinary program to develop a pediatric blood pump, motivated by the critical need to treat infants and young children with congenital and acquired heart diseases. The unique challenges of this patient population require a device with exceptional biocompatibility, miniaturized for implantation up to 6 months. This program implemented a collaborative, prescriptive design process, whereby mathematical models of the governing physics were coupled with numerical optimization to achieve a favorable compromise among several competing design objectives. Computational simulations of fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, and rotordynamics were performed in two stages: first using reduced-order formulations to permit rapid optimization of the key design parameters; followed by rigorous CFD and FEA simulations for calibration, validation, and detailed optimization. Over 20 design configurations were initially considered, leading to three pump topologies, judged on the basis of a multi-component analysis including criteria for anatomic fit, performance, biocompatibility, reliability, and manufacturability. This led to fabrication of a mixed-flow magnetically levitated pump, the PF3, having a displaced volume of 16.6 cc, approximating the size of a AA battery and producing a flow capacity of 0.3-1.5 L/min. Initial in vivo evaluation demonstrated excellent hemocompatibility after 72 days of implantation in an ovine. In summary, combination of prescriptive and heuristic design principles have proven effective in developing a miniature magnetically levitated blood pump with excellent performance and biocompatibility, suitable for integration into chronic circulatory support system for infants and young children; aiming for a clinical trial within 3 years.

Functional renal outcome in on-pump and off-pump coronary revascularization: a propensity-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Since the advent of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB), comparisons have been made between it and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Some observe a lesser incidence of acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy with OPCAB whereas others do not. The objective was to compare the occurrence of renal adverse outcome between on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and OPCAB. Renal adverse outcome was defined as minor (20% increase in serum creatinine from preoperative) or major (composite end point of postoperative serum creatinine >200 mumol/L or postoperative mechanical renal support).

METHODS

The study was based on 2,041 patients with no known preoperative renal disease having first-time isolated coronary artery bypass grafting of multiple coronary arteries between January 2001 and November 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital, Harefield Hospital, and Hammersmith Hospital, in West London; 1,224 patients had on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and 817 patients had OPCAB. Selection bias for surgical technique was addressed by calculating the propensity score for each patient and using it as an independent variable for adjustment in the multivariate analysis. Univariate and multivariate ordered logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with renal adverse outcome ordered as none, minor, and major.

RESULTS

The number of grafts was 3.22 +/- 0.82 for the on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting group and 3.35 +/- 0.95 for the OPCAB group. On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and increasing age were found to be the strongest independent predictors (p < 0.001) of renal adverse outcome. Other independent predictors included hypertension (p = 0.005), diabetes (p = 0.032), and preoperative serum creatinine (p = 0.001). A left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.30 to 0.49 (p = 0.099) and an ejection fraction of 0.50 or greater (p < 0.001) were associated with decreased risk compared with patients with an ejection fraction of less than 0.30. Interestingly, the use of non-left internal mammary arterial conduits significantly decreased the likelihood of renal adverse outcome (p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this propensity-based study show that the OPCAB technique may reduce the risk for minor and major renal adverse outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Chronic nonpulsatile blood flow is compatible with normal end-organ function: implications for LVAD development

Evolving blood pump technology has produced user-friendly continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices, but uncertainty exists about the safety of chronic nonpulsatile circulation. Recent experimental and clinical evidence suggest that pulse pressure is not required from a blood pump. End-organ function is well maintained with nonpulsatile systems, although pulse pressure may accelerate recovery from cardiogenic shock. Form follows function, so the effects of reduced pulse pressure on the arterial wall are not surprising. The ability to alter aortic wall morphology by reducing pulse pressure may have important implications for the future treatment of arterial pathology. Both centrifugal and axial-flow pumps can be miniaturized and are reliable and silent. Doubts about the feasibility of long-term circulation with reduced pulse pressure are disappearing.

Effects of left ventricular assist device support and outflow graft location upon aortic blood flow

Although continuous flow (CFVAD) and pulsatile (PVAD) ventricular assist devices (VADs) are being clinically used, their effects upon aortic blood flow as a measure of overall blood distribution remain unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of CFVAD and PVAD support for ascending (AscA) and descending (DA) aorta outflow cannulation upon mean aortic blood flow and waveform morphology. Six experiments were conducted in a normal, acute calf model, in which an inflow cannula was implanted in the left ventricle apex and outflow cannulae were anastomosed to both the AscA and DA. Flow probes were placed around the pulmonary artery, pump outflow, brachiocephalic trunk, and aorta proximal and distal to the DA outflow. For each acute experiment, calves received randomly selected levels of VAD support (0-100% of cardiac output) and pump failure (VAD off and outflow cannula unclamped) for each of four randomly selected test conditions: (1) PVAD and AscA, (2) PVAD and DA, (3) CFVAD and AscA, and (4) CFVAD and DA. Regardless of pump type or support level, proximal and distal aorta mean flows were lower (p < 0.05) for DA compared with the AscA. No differences in mean aortic flows between pump types at either outflow graft location were discerned. Differences in morphologic features of blood flow waveforms between PVAD and CFVAD were observed. During simulated pump failure, retrograde aortic blood flow in both the aortic arch and DA was observed. Partial ventricular suction was also observed during the greatest levels of CFVAD support and suggested pronounced effects upon both the right and left ventricle. Collectively, these findings imply that VAD outflow location may have an important role in patient response and recovery. Investigation of the long-term pathophysiologic responses to pump type and outflow location is ongoing.

Balloon-pump-induced Pulsatility Improves Coronary and Carotid Flows in an Experimental Model of BioMedicus Left Ventricular Assistance

The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefit of the simultaneous use of a BioMedicus left ventricular assistance device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.) and an intra-aortic balloon pump on regional blood flows, pressure, and pulsatility. Twelve pigs are studied. A BioMedicus pump was placed between the left atrium and the ascending aorta and an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted through the left femoral artery. Blood flow and pressure were measured in the carotid, femoral, and coronary arteries and in the thoracic aorta below the intra-aortic balloon in the basal experimental condition with a full-flow BioMedicus pump and with a full-flow BioMedicus pump + intra-aortic balloon. The BioMedicus pump eliminates pulsatility in all sites and significantly decreases coronary and carotid blood flow. The adjunction of an intra-aortic balloon restores pulsatility to values comparable to those recorded in basal conditions. Coronary and carotid flows even increase to values higher than in the basal conditions. The simultaneous use of an intra-aortic balloon combined with the BioMedicus pump provides a pulsatile flow and increases coronary and carotid blood flows in pigs. An intra-aortic balloon can easily be combined with a BioMedicus pump whenever possible and may improve myocardial recovery in patients with postcardiotomy ventricular failure.

Injury in Organs after Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Comparative Experimental Morphological Study between a Centrifugal and a New Pulsatile Pump

The aim of this investigation was to assess organ injury provoked by a new pulsatile pump for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with respect to a conventional centrifugal pump. Eight pigs in the pulsatile group (PG) and five in the centrifugal group (CG) underwent a partial CPB lasting 180 min. The animals were sacrificed 180 min after CPB was suspended, and a morphological study of fragments of ventricular wall, liver, lung, and kidney was performed. In CG, centrilobular hepatic necrosis was observed accompanied by sinusoidal dilatation and congestion, multiple focuses of myocardial ischemia, and minor to moderate pulmonary interstitial edema. In PG, diffuse centrilobular sinusoidal congestion in the liver, congestion and capillary dilatation of low intensity in the ventricular wall, and nonsignificant pulmonary interstitial septal edema was observed. In the kidney, both groups showed degenerative changes of the tubular cells and nonsignificant tubular dilatation. These results suggest a better peripheral circulation in the pulsatile group.

Hemodynamics of chronic nonpulsatile flow: implications for LVAD development

Both experimental and clinical evidence suggest that pulse pressure is not required from a blood pump. End-organ function is well maintained with nonpulsatile systems, though pulse pressure may accelerate recovery from cardiogenic shock. Form follows function, so the effects of reduced pulse pressure on the arterial wall are not surprising. The ability to alter aortic wall morphology by reducing pulse pressure may have important implications for the future treatment of arterial pathology. Both centrifugal and axial-flow pumps can be miniaturized and are silent. Their reliability and user-friendly status may soon allow implantation at an earlier stage of cardiac deterioration. Doubts about the feasibility of long-term pulseless circulation are disappearing.

Newly developed ventricular assist device with linear oscillatory actuator

The goal of this study was to develop a new direct electromagnetic left ventricular assist device (DEM-LVAD) with a linear oscillatory actuator (LOA). The DEM-LVAD is a pulsatile pump with a pusher plate. The pusher plate is driven directly by the mover of the LOA. The LOA provides reciprocating motion without using any movement converter such as a roller screw or a hydraulic system. It consists of a stator with a single winding excitation coil and a mover with two permanent magnets. The simple structure of the LOA is based on fewer parts to bring about high reliability and smaller size. The mover moves back and forth when forward and backward electric current is supplied to the excitation coil. The pump housings have been designed using three-dimensional computer aided design software and fabricated with the aid of computer aided manufacturing technology. Monostrut valves (Bjork-Shiley #21) were used for the prototype. The DEM-LVAD dimension is 96 mm in diameter and 50 mm thick with a mass of 0.62 kg and a volume of 280 ml. An in vitro test (afterload 100 mm Hg; preload 10 mm Hg; input power 10 W) demonstrated more than 6 L/minute maximum output and 15% maximum efficiency at 130 beats per minute (bpm). Dynamic stroke volume ranged between 40 and 60 ml. The feasibility of the DEM-LVAD was confirmed.