A clinical evaluation of the Terumo Capiox SX18R hollow fiber oxygenator

The Terumo Capiox SX18R is a commercially available, low prime, reverse phase, hollow fiber membrane oxygenator. The oxygenator consists of a 1.8 m2 microporous polypropylene hollow fiber bundle, a 2200 cm2 tubular stainless steel heat exchanger, and an open hard shell venous reservoir with integral cardiotomy filter. The Terumo Capiox SX18R oxygenator was evaluated to determine its clinical oxygenating performance. Blood samples were drawn from 25 patients yielding 114 data points. The following parameters were recorded: blood flow, cardiac index, gas flow, gas to blood flow ratio, and oxygen fraction. Samples were assayed for hematocrit, hemoglobin, arterial and venous blood gas values, and venous oxygen saturation. The data and assay results were used to calculate arterial, venous, and membrane gas oxygen content, oxygen transfer, shunt fraction, and oxygen diffusion capacity. The Terumo Capiox SX18R oxygenator performed adequately with sufficient oxygen transfer reserve and carbon dioxide clearance under a variety of clinical conditions for the tested population.