271 Treatment of thrombophlebitic necrotic lesions in a patient with syncardia—a case report

Aims The 58 years old male patient with an important dilated cardiomyopathy, carrier of ICD, numerous malignant arrhythmias (VT) and without the possibility of a timely heart transplant, underwent emergency surgery by implanting a total artificial heart syncardia. Necrotic tissue was already present on the forearm and in the antecubital region before the surgery; it was caused by extravasation and thrombophlebitis due to continuous intravenous therapies and the lesions were deep down to tendons and bones after a surgical toilet. Years of unstable haemodynamics caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and low cardiac output led to poor peripheral vascularization giving priority to noble structures. Restoration of the tissue using advanced dressings without the use of skin grafts avoiding bacterial infections in a fragile patient. Methods and results A Pubmed search for advanced dressings was performed and a Webinar on the Wound Hygiene technique was attended. In the first instance, a polyurethane foam dressing was used and the wound on the forearm showed major improvements, subsequently with the synergistic help of the ‘Wound Hygiene’ technique and dressings based on connectivine, the tissue healed. The wound located in the antecubital region had continuous biofilm formation and a VacTherapy was planned for this. After 7 days, the conditions worsened and for this reason it was decided to use the Aqua Cell Ag +. This dressing with the silver helps in the formation of granulation tissue and it also prevents infections ‘trapping’ bacteria inside it. Conclusions The use of dressings with the Wound Hygiene technique led to the formation of new tissue without the need to perform a skin graft in a patient with a total artificial heart and without bacterial infections.

Analysis and regulation of the cardiovascular system of univentricular heart with different configurations of the total cavopulmonary connection

The cardiovascular system (CVS) is a complex mechanism capable of reacting and regulating various changes in external and internal parameters. A particular problem is the study of CVS with univentricular heart. We studied the hemodynamic response of the CVS to the use of various configurations of bypassing the right side of the heart. During our research, we selected three different configurations of the total cavopulmonary connection. All configurations were made from Clear Flex 50 and tested in an experimental workbench. According to the research results, the TCPC-3 configuration is the most optimal. It has symmetrical output values of flows and pressures and there is no significant increase in inlet pressure. The results of this study can be used to optimize the control of the parameters of the ventricular assist device and the total artificial heart.

Hydraulic Test Stand to Model Circulatory System Dynamics for Artificial Heart Evaluation

This work proposes the theory and design of an experimental setup to mimic the dynamic impedance of the human circulatory system for testing the dynamic characteristics of an artificial heart. This platform has the same resistance, compliance, and inertance elements as the well-studied 4-element Windkessel model. As opposed to a circuit analogy model commonly seen in the literature, our platform remains within the same energy domain as the circulatory system. This allows an artificial heart designer to test pump performance and dynamic pressure characteristics under realistic loading. A test platform is designed using a non-hazardous working fluid with the same density and viscosity as blood. The system uses as few custom components as possible and interchangeable parts allow for system tuning.

Biomedical Engineering as a Modern Component of Science in Biology and Medicine

The article considers the advances of biomedical engineering as the basis of scientific advances. Biomedical Engineering is the development and application of technical equipment for medical and biological research. This is an area where technologists, biologists and physicians work together to gain basic knowledge of the physical properties and behaviour of biological materials. The knowledge gained by these scientists is used to create devices, perform operations and develop new methods that improve human health and quality of life. Advances in biomedical technology made possible by this partnership include dialysis machines designed to replace sick and malfunctioning kidneys; hip and knee prostheses; materials and technologies for the work of the heart and blood vessels; artificial heart.