CCP Perfusion Equipment & Technology Operation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which oxygenator design uses a microporous polypropylene membrane to facilitate gas exchange?
- Bubble oxygenator
- Hollow fiber membrane oxygenator (Correct answer)
- Disc oxygenator
- Rotating screen oxygenator
Correct answer: Hollow fiber membrane oxygenator
Hollow fiber membrane oxygenators use microporous polypropylene fibers to allow gas exchange while minimizing blood-gas direct contact.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the arterial line filter in a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit?
- Increase blood pressure before entering the aorta
- Remove gaseous and particulate microemboli from the arterial outflow (Correct answer)
- Regulate heparin delivery to the patient
- Monitor oxygen saturation of returning blood
Correct answer: Remove gaseous and particulate microemboli from the arterial outflow
The arterial line filter captures gaseous and particulate emboli in the final arterial line segment before blood is returned to the patient.
Question 3: During CPB, the heat exchanger functions to:
- Filter metabolic waste products from blood
- Cool or warm blood to achieve desired patient temperature (Correct answer)
- Regulate blood pH by adjusting bicarbonate levels
- Separate plasma from cellular components
Correct answer: Cool or warm blood to achieve desired patient temperature
The heat exchanger modulates blood temperature by circulating water at a controlled temperature around the blood path, enabling cooling or rewarming.
Question 4: A perfusionist notices the oxygenator inlet pressure is significantly elevated above normal. The MOST likely cause is:
- Venous line obstruction
- Arterial line obstruction distal to the oxygenator (Correct answer)
- Air lock in the venous reservoir
- Excessive sweep gas flow
Correct answer: Arterial line obstruction distal to the oxygenator
Elevated oxygenator inlet pressure typically indicates obstruction in the arterial circuit distal to the oxygenator, such as a kinked or clamped arterial line.
Question 5: What is the maximum safe water temperature recommended when rewarming patients using a heat exchanger?
- 37°C
- 40°C
- 42°C (Correct answer)
- 45°C
Correct answer: 42°C
Water temperature should not exceed 42°C during rewarming to prevent thermal injury to blood proteins and neurological complications from excessive cerebral heating.
Question 6: The priming volume of a CPB circuit is critically important because it affects:
- The rate of anticoagulant metabolism only
- Hemodilution and the patient's hematocrit during bypass (Correct answer)
- The oxygen carrying capacity of the sweep gas
- Only the rate of venous drainage
Correct answer: Hemodilution and the patient's hematocrit during bypass
Priming volume dilutes the patient's blood upon initiation of bypass, directly impacting hematocrit and oxygen-carrying capacity throughout the procedure.
Question 7: Which component of the CPB circuit is responsible for removing air that enters the venous line?
- Arterial line filter
- Hard-shell venous reservoir (Correct answer)
- Cardiotomy reservoir
- Oxygenator sweep gas port
Correct answer: Hard-shell venous reservoir
The hard-shell venous reservoir acts as an air trap and defoaming chamber, preventing air from advancing into the pump and arterial circuit.
CCP Perfusion Equipment & Technology Operation 2
Which oxygenator design uses a microporous polypropylene membrane to facilitate gas exchange?