Early experience with the Levitronix Centrimag® device for extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation following lung transplantation

Abstract: Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is accepted as a salvage therapy to treat life-threatening complications following lung transplantation such as primary graft dysfunction, acute rejection or airway dehiscence. Levitronix Centrimag® (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) is a centrifugal pump that consists of a magnetically levitated bearing-less rotor designed to reduce blood friction. ECMO using the Levitronix Centrimag® pump may be an ideal medium-term support for lung transplant recipients suffering these serious complications. We describe our early experience of using ECMO with Levitronix Centrimag® device and the Hilite hollow fibre membrane oxygenator (Medos Hilite® LT, Medos Medizintechnik AG) in three cases following lung transplantation. The device is technically easy to implant and manage with a low complication rate on minimal anticoagulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]