Studies in extracorporeal circulation. I. Applicability of Gibbon-type pump-oxygenator to human intracardiac surgery: 40 cases.

BASIC laboratory studies on the extracorporeal circulation and oxygenation of blood began many years ago. In 1939, Gibbon 11 reported his pioneering work with perfusion of the entire body during the temporary functional exclusion of the heart and lungs from the remainder of the circulation. Since then, investigative work has progressed along many lines, one of which has been directed toward the development of various types of oxygenators. In general, the methods have followed principles laid down during the earlier work in the field of perfusion of isolated organs, namely the use of biologic oxygenators, the introduction of bubbles of oxygen directly into the blood or the creation of thin films of blood in an atmosphere of oxygen. This last method was employed by Gibbon in the construction of a stationary vertical-screen oxygenator properly known as the "Gibbon-type oxygenator," 22 whereas in the oxygenators developed by Bjork, Melrose and Aird, Dennis and associates, and Jongbloed, the film was created by the passage of the blood across a moving surface. The present-day foam or bubble-type oxygenators are associated with the names of Helmsworth and Clark, Clowes, Gollan, Gimbel and Engelberg, and DeWall.