Quantitative gas transfer into and out of circulating venous blood by means of an intravenacaval oxygenator.

The volume of O2 and CO2 transferred into/out circulating venous blood by various sized IVOX devices has been assessed by ex vivo and in vivo animal experiments and by reviewing the gas transfer data collected from the first 20 human ARDS patients studied during Phase I of the IVOX clinical trials. Data from these assessments indicate that oxygen transfer through the size 5 IVOX ranges from 15.4 to 18.0 cc/min; through the size 6 IVOX ranges from 22.8 to 35.5 cc/min; through the size 7 IVOX ranges from 28.5 to 66.7 cc/min; through the size 8 IVOX ranges from 34.9 to 66.3 cc/min; through the size 9 IVOX ranges from 45.9 to 115.7 cc/min; through the size 10 IVOX ranges from 52.9 to 133 cc/min. Quantitative carbon dioxide transfer through the various size IVOX devices closely follows the quantitative oxygen transfer achieved by IVOX. These quantitative data provide valuable information to clinicians considering using IVOX to augment the inadequate gas transfer existing in patients with acute, potentially reversible respiratory failure. They indicate IVOX transfers clinically significant quantities of O2 into and CO2 out of circulating venous blood in an intact subject without involving the subjects natural lungs.