4 ms·
Actually, reducing it much while keeping the current functioning principle would be difficult. ECMO not only oxygenates, but pumps to assist the heart. Red blo
by rscho 7y ago
Actually, reducing it much while keeping the current functioning principle would be difficult.
ECMO not only oxygenates, but pumps to assist the heart. Red blood cells would not resist infusion through small cannulas at high speed. Hemolysis already is a problem with the current size femoral cannulas.
So if what you're after is flow, size is a severe limitation.
- mikecsh 7y agoIndeed - see Poiseuilles equation [https://www.openanesthesia.org/poiseuilles_law_iv_fluids/ https://www.openanesthesia.org/poiseuilles_law_iv_fluids/]
- rscho 7y agoBlood is non Newtonian. Poiseuilles doesn't really apply. I'm aware that's what's taught in med school, though. At the maroscopic level, it works ok.