Pulmonary Function in Nonpulsatile Pulmonary Circulation with a Centrifugal Pump

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to clarify the physiological influence of nonpulsatile blood flow on the lung. To analyze this influence, nonpulsatile pulmonary blood flow with a centrifugal pump was established in chronic models. Pulsatile right ventricular assist devices were implanted in six goats to draw the blood from both the right atrium and ventricle to send to the pulmonary artery. Two weeks after the first operation, the pulsatile pump was quickly replaced with a centrifugal pump, without the use of anesthesia, and a 100% nonpulsatile pulomonary blood flow was obtained. The cardiac index was kept at 80–120 ml/kg per min and the pulmonary circulation was well maintained after the immediate depulsation of the pulmonary blood flow. No significant changes were observed in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and total pulmonary resistance before and after depulsation. Blood gas data were also within the normal range. There were no changes in the blood distribution in the right lung, which distribution was evaluated by a colored microsphere method. These results suggested that pulmonary function and lung tissue perfusion were not affected by nonpulsatile pulmonary circulation.