Extended Support With the Terumo BABY-RX™ Oxygenator

The Terumo Baby-RX™, a new-generation low prime oxygenator, recently has entered the perfusion market in North America. This oxygenator is designed exclusively for neonates and infants and has the smallest priming volume of any clinically available oxygenator. The BABY-RX™ also is treated with X Coating™, Terumo’s biocompatible, hydrophilic polymer surface coating that reduces platelet adhesion and protein denaturation. The oxygenator has a blood flow range of 0.1 to 1500 mL/min and operates with a minimum reservoir volume of 15 mL. A 3.2-kg patient, status post-Stage 1 Norwood, Palliation was placed on cardiopulmonary support after thrombus formation within the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt during a general surgery procedure. The extended support circuit incorporated the Baby-RX™ oxygenator for 17.5 hours. The oxygenator performed well over this time period at flows of 600–800 mL/min, sweep rates of 100–300 mL/min, FiO2 of 30–40%, and ACTs of 140–200 seconds. There were no indices of oxygenator failure noted within the time frame of support. After placement of a new systemic to pulmonary shunt, the patient was removed from support and the oxygenator drained of residual blood. No evidence of fiber damage or clot formation was noted. The patient had a successful support run without complications related to cardiopulmonary support.