Carbon dioxide field flooding versus mechanical de-airing during open-heart surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Removal of intracardiac air during valvular surgery should be accomplished in the most effective manner. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to compare mechanical de-airing and carbon dioxide (CO₂) field flooding in 18 patients undergoing elective valvular surgery. Transoesophageal echocardiography was used to record intracardiac bubbles, and this was assessed postoperatively by two independent echocardio-graphers blinded to treatment group. Both assessors graded the bubble count higher in the mechanical de-airing group compared with the CO₂ flooding group, and there was good agreement between assessors. CO₂ field flooding is more effective than mechanical de-airing in removing intracardiac bubbles following valvular surgery.

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