Blood cell rheological changes during prolonged perfusion with membrane oxygenation (PPMO) using perfluorochemicals

Abstract

The aim of this study was to discover the effect of the perfluorochemical FC-43 on blood cell rheology during experimental prolonged perfusion with membrane oxygenation (PPMO). Using fresh human blood from healthy donors, six experiments with FC-43 in one clinical dose of 30ml/kg, another six with a dose of 1 0ml/kg, and 16 controls were pumped for 72 hours in a perfusion system containing an oxygenator similar to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit. Blood trauma was analysed using the St George's Filtrometer by estimating blood cell filtrability, clogging particles and clogging rate; the latter two reflecting blood cell aggregability. At 72 hours the filtrability of red cells was reduced by over 95% and 7.0% in the FC-43 groups and controls respectively; the FC-43 groups showed significantly (p < 0.01) greater reductions during perfusion. Both FC-43 concentrations increased the rheological damage to white cells from the outset. The white cells showed a greater tendency to clog than the red cells, suggesting an increased aggregability during prolonged perfusion. The 30ml/kg FC-43 dose induced relatively more damage than the doses in the other groups. This study suggests that FC-43 increased blood cell damage during PPMO in a dose-related manner, and that FC-43 during PPMO should preferably be made less toxic if it is to be used routinely as a blood substitute for prolonged extracorporeal circulation.