Maybe your patient is recovering from a severe illness. Perhaps they’re on a transplant waiting list. Or you may need to move them from one hospital wing to another. In any of these situations, their weakened heart and lungs may struggle and need a break.
At AdventHealth Tampa, we have the tools you need to help your patient’s heart and lungs recover. Recently, we acquired VitalFlow™, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system by Medtronic. As a Silver Center of Excellence in Life Support, we are one of the small handful of hospitals in Florida to provide this innovative ECMO system to patients.
What Makes VitalFlow™ Different?
ECMO products have been used off label for decades. These machines take over your patient’s heart and lungs, pumping their blood through an oxygenator to add oxygen. Early piecemeal systems were bulky and inefficient. Today’s systems are smaller and easier to use.
But VitalFlow™ goes a few steps further to provide the most sophisticated ECMO care even for complicated patients. It’s a streamlined system that blends advanced components, touchscreen technology and an adjustable structure.
It’s the first ECMO system approved by the Food & Drug Administration.
Better Performance
With VitalFlow™, we’re better positioned to care for the most complex patients. This simplified system supports better blood flow. Compared to other ECMO mechanisms, its centrifugal pump is more efficient. It operates at a lower speed, requires less blood for priming and damages fewer red blood cells. It’s also the first pump in the United States approved by the FDA for up to 48 hours of use. As a result, a patient’s heart and lungs get more continuous relief.
Like the pump, the Nautilus™ VF Oxygenator3 is an efficient component that also boosts patient safety. At a glance, providers can assess real-time performance data for pressure, oxygen saturation and temperature. The circular design keeps blood moving so there’s no slow or stalled flow. As a result, patients have better oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer. Nautilus also has fewer connection points, reducing the chances of blood clots and bubble formation.
The tubing that connects the pump and oxygenator offers a third layer of safety. Based on need, providers can choose from three tube lengths. Each tube is coated in Balance™ Biosurface, a hydrophilic, non-heparin polymer that decreases platelet activation and adhesion while preserving platelet function.
A Simpler System
Critical patients with complicated needs consistent support. The VitalFlow™ touchscreen console makes it easier to monitor the ECMO system and a patient’s condition. In a single glance, our providers can assess blood pressure, oxygen saturation and temperature. The user-friendly, graphical interface also offers a clear bubble detector and one-touch access for alarm settings and an alarm history list.
To track a patient’s status and recovery, the console includes two ports for data export and real-time data streaming. As a result, we can instantaneously transit data directly to a patient’s electronic medical record.
Greater Configurability
As a lightweight, compact, two-part system, VitalFlow™ goes where we need it. We can reconfigure the system based on each provider’s clinical preferences and our hospital protocols. This portable, versatile system can also easily move between hospital departments.
The easy-to-carry caddy contains the oxygenator, pump/motor drive and emergency hand crank. The motor and hand crank are conveniently positioned for easy transition during emergencies.
The dual-sided cart has a low center of gravity and large wheels, facilitating intrahospital transport. A height-adjustable grip makes it easier for our providers to maneuver the cart with a single hand. It also contains a heating and cooling unit that protects the system’s functionality.
Benefits of VitalFlow™
Overall, VitalFlow™ is a simpler, more reliable, more comprehensive ECMO system. It’s a win-win-win combination that helps providers deliver the highest level of ECMO care to all patients.
These benefits include:
- Comprehensive console that tracks and displays vital measurements in real-time, supporting in-hospital transport
- Large touchscreen with a graphical interface that supports users of any experience level
- Low-profile centrifugal pump that requires less priming solution than other ECMO systems
- Oxygenator and tubing coated with a non-heparin biocompatible surface that promotes blood flow
Learn more about ECMO at Pepin Heart Institute at AdventHealth Tampa.
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