PRECiSe (priming reduced extracorporeal circulation setup): Results of a safety study

Background: Different low-priming systems limited to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been introduced. We describe the priming reduced extracorporeal circulation setup (PRECiSe), a new low-priming system that supplies all of the features of cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: PRECiSe incorporates the DeltaStream diagonal pump, which pumps blood from the right atrium to the aorta via a membrane oxygenator and a filter. The system is placed beneath the patient's head, resulting in extremely short tubing lengths. A reservoir allows the use of suckers and vents. Autologous blood priming further reduces hemodilution. Results: In the safety study, the system was used for extracorporeal circulation in 11 patients undergoing CABG without the occurrence of any adverse events. By using the PRECiSe system, we reduced the mean priming volume to 268.5 mL, resulting in minimal hemodilution and transfusion requirements. Conclusion: The use of PRECiSe for extracorporeal circulation in CABG is safe and reduces priming volume as well as transfusion requirements. Further studies are necessary to investigate the clinical benefit for patients as well as the use of the system in open heart procedures.