Effect of vessel compliance on the in-vitro performance of a pulsating respiratory support catheter.

Intravena caval respiratory support (or membrane oxygenation) is a potential therapy for patients with acute respiratory insufficiency. A respiratory support catheter is being developed that consists of a bundle of hollow fiber membranes with a centrally positioned pulsating balloon to enhance gas exchange. This study examined the influence of vessel compliance on the gas exchange performance of the pulsating respirator, support catheter. Polyurethane elastic tubes were fabricated with compliance comparable to that measured in bovine vena cava specimens. The gas exchange performance of the respiratory catheter was studied in an in-vitro flow loop using either the model compliant tube or a rigid tube as a "mock" vena cava. Balloon pulsation enhanced gas exchange comparably in both rigid and model compliant vessels up to 120 bpm pulsation frequency. Above 120 bpm gas exchange increased with further pulsation in the rigid tube, but no additional increase in gas exchange was seen in the compliant tube. The differences above 120 bpm may reflect differences in the compliance of the elastic tube versus the natural vena cava.