[1989 clinical experience with biomedicus centrifugal pump in the operation of the thoracoabdominal and thoracic aneurysm--assessment from the point of renal function].

It is generally accepted that operative procedures of thoracic aneurysm requires the use of some type of temporary vascular bypass when cross clamp is necessary. Past 10 years, we have used three types of temporary bypass. From 1979 to 1989, 78 patients with thoracic aneurysm were treated. In these patients, 25 patients with descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm were divided into three groups on the basis of the type of bypass and evaluated from the point of postoperative renal function. Temporary vascular bypass using artificial graft was applied to 9 patients. Gott's shunt tube in stead of graft was used in 5 patients. Left ventricular bypass with Bio-Medics centrifugal pump was used in 11 patient. Among three groups, differences in age, diameter of the aneurysm, preoperative renal function and aortic clamp time were statistically not significant. Mean arterial pressure gradient between upper and lower extremities were 42 +/- 14 mm Hg in artificial graft group, 31 +/- 7 mm Hg in Gott group and 9 +/- 10 mm Hg in Bio-Pump group. Urine volumes during temporary bypass were 98 +/- 43 ml in artificial graft group, 120 +/- 54 ml in Gott group, 255 +/- 269 ml in Bio-Pump group. Left ventricular bypass with Bio-Medics centrifugal pump is an extremely useful method to protect renal function in thoracic aneurysm surgery.