ELECTRICAL FAILURE DURING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS - A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF INCIDENCE, CAUSES, MANAGEMENT AND GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
M. HARGROVE, FCCP, Chief perfusionist,
B.C. RAMISH, FRCSI, Registrar,
A. O’DONNELL, FRCSI, Consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon,
T. AHERNE, FRCSI, Consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon,
Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland
The incidence of electrical failure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been
reported to occur in approximately 1 per 1,000 cases. (Ref. 1, 2 3,). While the
resultant morbidity and mortality is low, electrical failure is a life
threatening scenario. We report three major electrical failures during CPB in a
patient population of 3,500 over a 15 year period. These cases involved;
(1) mains failure and generator shut down,
(2) mains failure and generator power surge, and,
(3) failure of the uninterruptable power supply (UPS)
Protocols for preventative maintenance, necessary equipment, battery back up and
guidelines for the successful management of such accidents during CPB are
discussed.
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rate of incidents related to cardiopulmonary bypass?
Perfusion. 2001 May;16(3):189-98.
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