Cardiopulmonary bypass - Are pediatric patients safer now?

Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia Vol. 13:1 Jan-Apr-2010 Address for correspondence: Dr. PK Neema, B-9, NFH, SCT Residential Quarters, Poonthi Road, Kumarapuram, Thiruvananthapuram 695011, Kerala, India. E-mail: praveenneema@yahoo.co.in, neema@sctimst.ac.in Online monitoring of hematocrit, arterial and venous oxygen saturation, arterial and cardioplegia line pressure, and venous reservoir level allow immediate application of corrective measures such as adjustments of O2 and CPB flow and addition of blood or fluid to perfusate to adjust hematocrit and/ or perfusate level in the venous reservoir; the measures increase the safety of CPB. Additionally, placement of air bubble detector on the arterial line automatically alarm and shut off the systemic roller pump if a a bolus of air inadvertently enters the arterial line proximal to the sensor.