Establishment and evaluation of a rat model of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) thrombosis using a 3D-printed mock-oxygenator

Abstract Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) research using large animals requires a significant amount of resources, slowing down the development new means ECMO anticoagulation. Therefore, this study developed and evaluated rat model 3D-printed mock-oxygenator. Methods The circuit consisted tubing, mock-oxygenator, roller pump. mock-oxygenator was designed to simulate geometry blood flow patterns fiber bundle in full-scale oxygenators but with low (2.5 mL) priming volume. Rats were placed on arteriovenous at 1.9 mL/min rate two different heparin doses (n = 3 each): (15 IU/kg/h for eight hours) versus high (50 one hour followed by 25 seven hours). experiment continued hours or until failed. considered have failed when its resistance reached three times baseline resistance. Results During ECMO, rats maintained near-normal mean arterial pressure gases minimal hemodilution. thrombus weight significantly (p < 0.05) between (0.02 ± 0.006 g) (0.003 0.001 delivery groups, also larger anticoagulation group. Conclusions This is simple, inexpensive system investigating agents provides levels that can serve as control groups future studies.