BUBBLE OXYGENATOR

Typical Number in Hospital:

Cost Bands:

References: 4

This is used to replace the function of the lung during heart surgery. The venous blood is passed up a vertical column through which bubbles of oxygen are rising. Oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is released. The column may be a number of vertical tubes or a bag in which a fine mesh acts as a spoiler to promote mixing of the gas and blood. At the top of the column, the gases and blood form a foam from which the bubbles coalesce and are removed. On exit from the column blood passes through a filter and a bubble trap. The oxygenator may also include a cooling device to lower the body temperature of the patient to extend the time available for surgery. Reheating of the blood is often required during the latter stages of the procedure.

Bubble oxygenators are included in the heart-lung machine for cardiac surgery.

Membrane oxygenators also exist in which the gases and blood are separated by a semipermeable membrane.