• Blood from the cardiotomy suckers & vents is initially
received into the cardiotomy reservoir
• Serves as a storage area and also filters the large number of
solid & gaseous emboli
• Rigid cardiotomy reservoir, usually made of polycarbonate
• Defoamer is a sponge impregnated with a substance that lowers
surface tension (comprised of layers of open cell polyurethane foam)
• Filtering may occur via polyester screens. The screens
incorporate a filter of between 20-40 mm
• Current trend is to combine both the cardiotomy reservoir &
the venous reservoir with the filter positioned at the upper end of the
cardiotomy reservoir whereby blood is returned to the circulation by gravity to
the venous reservoir
• Ideal cardiotomy features to remove bubbles from aspirated
blood:
i) Direct injection of blood into defoamer to minimise
turbulence
ii) Ensuring all cardiotomy blood passes through defoamer
iii) Incorporation of integral micropore filtration
iv) Avoidance of free fall of defoamed & filtered blood
into cardiotomy reservoir with resultant splashing & formation of GME
v) Storage of blood in cardiotomy reservoir for as long as
possible rather than letting it continuously flow into the venous reservoir
will reduce the number of GME
KCPotgerÓ