Hemoglobin Based Oxygen Carrying Solution Stability in Extracorporeal Circulation An In Vitro Evaluation and Implications for Clinical Use

This study evaluated the stability of a hemoglobin based oxygen carrying (HBOC) solution during extracorporeal circulation. HBOC solution was diluted 1:1 with normal saline, 2 L of the resulting solution was oxygenated in either a bubble oxygenator (n=5) or membrane oxygenator (n=5), and it was placed in extracorporeal circulation at a rate of 2 L/min for 5 hr at 37 degrees C. To assess the effect of added human blood, 500 ml of fresh human whole blood was added to 1.5 L of diluted HBOC solution, and circulated as described. Methemoglobin level, hemoglobin integrity (percent of HBOC solution tetramer), and oxygen affinity (PO2 at 50% hemoglobin saturation) were measured. Extracorporeal circulation using the bubble oxygenator slightly altered (<1%) hemoglobin integrity compared with controls. Oxygen affinity decreased during extracorporeal circulation with both the membrane and bubble oxygenators; there was no significant difference between the oxygenators. Methemoglobin formation in controls and in extracorporeal circulation with either oxygenator was significant, with a slight advantage of the membrane compared with the bubble oxygenator; however, the presence of blood significantly decreased the rate of methemoglobin formation. In the presence of blood, HBOC solution remains structurally stable and efficacious for oxygen delivery during extracorporeal circulation.