Polymethylpentene (PMP) oxygenators, utilised for ECMO, are commonly believed to be resistant to plasma leakage. Whilst uncommon, plasma leakage has been previously reported with PMP fibres, both in vivo and in vitro. We describe a paediatric ECMO case during which plasma leakage occurred and oxygenator function gradually deteriorated, ultimately necessitating device replacement. To our knowledge, this is the first case of plasma leakage described using a PMP device during paediatric ECMO. Subsequent investigation is described, demonstrating that a protein coating reduces the free passage of solution across the PMP membrane.
Insensible water loss from a Hilite 2400LT oxygenator is approximately 72 ml/day per L/min gas flow over 24 hrs. Heating and humidifying the gas reduces the fluid loss significantly to approximately 8 ml/L/min gas flow over 24 hrs (p=0.009).
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