Laboratory evaluation of a double lumen catheter for venovenous neonatal ECMO.

The authors designed and tested a 14F outside diameter thin-walled double lumen catheter (DLC) for neonatal venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In vitro tests with water and dye solution showed capacity of the drainage lumen was 1,096 ml/min at 100 cm siphon, and pressure drop across the perfusion lumen was 300 mmHg at 500 ml/min flow. Recirculation at 500 ml/min flow ranged from 5 to 29%, depending upon simulated cardiac output. The highest serum hemoglobin during 12 hour 400 ml/min flow VV bypass in five dogs was 49 mg/dl. Typical oxygen transport in four dogs was 25 cc/min at 400 ml/min flow. This catheter is well suited for clinical VV ECMO in neonates.