A New Pumpside Aid For Decision Making: The Pocket Programmable Calculator

The pocket programmable calculator represents a new generation of information processing devices. It can take real-time information such as pressures, gas tensions, cardiac outputs, and other directly measured parameters and make extremely complex numerical calculations providing valuable physiological information to physicians, perfusionists, nurses, or technicians. This information is obtainable as quickly as from computer systems but at a much lower cost. The portability of the calculator permits immedi<1te data access in either the operating room or Intensive care unit. The application of the programmable calculator can be particularly helpful during cardiopulmonary bypass. It permits rapid yet effective calculation of oxygen consumption, arterial-venous oxygen content differences, body vascular resistance, base excess, and drug dosages. These variables provide added information for improved decision-making during extracorporeal perfusion.