Use of a low-resistance compliant thoracic artificial lung in the pulmonary artery to pulmonary artery configuration

Abstract

Thoracic artificial lungs have been proposed as a bridge to transplant in patients with end-stage lung disease. Systemic embolic complications can occur after thoracic artificial lung attachment in the pulmonary artery to left atrium configuration. Therefore, we evaluated the function of a compliant thoracic artificial lung attached via the proximal pulmonary artery to distal main pulmonary artery configuration. The compliant thoracic artificial lung was attached to 5 sheep (63±0.9 kg) in the proximal pulmonary artery to distal main pulmonary artery configuration. Device function and animal hemodynamics were assessed at baseline and with approximately 60%, 75%, and 90% of cardiac output diverted to the compliant thoracic artificial lung. At each condition, dobutamine (0 and 5 μg·kg(-1)·min(-1)) was used to simulate rest and exercise conditions. At rest, cardiac output decreased from 6.20±0.53 L/min at baseline to 5.40±0.43, 4.66±0.31, and 4.05±0.27 L/min with 60%, 75%, and 90% of cardiac output to the compliant thoracic artificial lung, respectively (P<.01 for each flow diversion vs baseline). During exercise, cardiac output decreased from 7.85±0.70 L/min at baseline to 7.46±0.55, 6.93±0.51, and 5.96±0.44 L/min (P=.82, P=.19, and P<.01 with respect to baseline) with 60%, 75%, and 90% of cardiac output to the compliant thoracic artificial lung, respectively. The artificial lung resistance averaged 0.46±0.02 and did not vary significantly with blood flow rate. Use of a compliant thoracic artificial lung may be feasible in the proximal pulmonary artery to distal main pulmonary artery setting if its blood flow is held at less than 75% of cardiac output. To ensure a decrease in cardiac output of less than 10%, a blood flow rate less than 60% of cardiac output is advised.