Feasibility Study of Pulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Device for Prolonged Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 99; no. 6; pp. 1961 - 1968
• Main Authors: Schumer, Erin M., MS, MD, Zoeller, Keith A., MEng, Linsky, Paul L., MD, Monreal, Gretel, PhD, Choi, Young, BS, Giridharan, Guruprasad A., PhD, Sobieski, Michael A., CCP, RN, Slaughter, Mark S., MD, van Berkel, Victor H., MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-06-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Feasibility Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Ventricles - surgery; Heart-Assist Devices; Lung - physiology; Lung Transplantation - methods; Male; Organ Preservation - methods; Perfusion - methods; Prosthesis Design; Pulsatile Flow - physiology; Surgery; Swine; Time Factors; Tissue Donors; RR; TV; PEEP; Z pulm; LVAD; energy equivalent pressure; SHE; EVLP; respiratory rate; surplus hemodynamic energy; cardiopulmonary bypass; tidal volume; left atrial pressure; pulmonary artery pressure; pulsatile flow; pulmonary artery flow; continuous flow; 12; CF; positive end-expiratory pressure; beats per minute; PAWP; EEP; CPB; PAF; peak airway pressure; input impedance; PF; ex vivo lung perfusion; LAP; left ventricular assist device; BPM; PAP; Zpulm
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.02.087

Background Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has the potential to increase the donor pool for lung transplantation by facilitating resuscitation and extended evaluation of marginal organs. Current EVLP methodology employs continuous flow (CF) pumps that produce non-pulsatile EVLP hemodynamics. In this feasibility study, we tested the hypothesis that a pulsatile flow (PF) pump will provide better EVLP support than a CF pump through delivery of physiologic hemodynamics. Methods Porcine lungs were supported in an EVLP model by centrifugal CF (n = 3) or PF (n = 4) left ventricular assist devices. Lungs were ventilated at 4 to 5 mL/kg, 0.21 fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2 ), and perfused with an acellular, albumin-based solution corrected for osmolarity, acid-base balance, and carbon dioxide pressure (≤20 hours at 30 ° C) for a minimum of 12 hours support. Prostaglandin E1 and 30% albumin were infused continuously. Hemodynamic, respiratory, and blood gas parameters were continuously monitored and digitally recorded hourly. Parenchymal biopsies were used for quantification of wet to dry weight ratio. Results All lungs maintained function in the EVLP circuit for a minimum of 12 hours (mean 14.7 ± 1 hours) and demonstrated minimal edema formation. The PF EVLP produced higher pulsatility as demonstrated by greater energy equivalent pressure and surplus hemodynamic energy compared with CF EVLP ( p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary impedance, arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen, wet to dry weight ratio, and peak airway pressure between CF and PF EVLP. Conclusions The CF and PF EVLP systems successfully maintained lungs 12+ hours using a modified Steen perfusate (XVIVO Perfusion, Inc, Goteborg, Sweden); however, there were no statistically significant differences between CF and PF groups despite higher pulsatility, suggesting that PF may not offer immediate benefits over CF for prolonged ex vivo lung preservation.