Body surface area may not be best way to determine pump flow rate

What is it about?

One of the main functions of the heart lung machine is to deliver oxygen to the body and the pump flow rate is an important determinant of the delivery. Traditionally the pump flow rate on the heart lung machine has been determined by the surface are of the body. However, increasing numbers of overweight patients are presenting for heart surgery and this may the body surface area may not be the most accurate way of determining pump flow rate as fat uses low amounts of oxygen. Lean body mass may be a better determinant as muscle uses much higher amounts of oxygen. The findings of this study suggest that using body surrace area to calculate pump flow rate over deivers oxygen in overweight patients and under delivers oxygen in lean patients.

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