PULM6: Evaluating The Influence Of Fibre Replacement And Configuration For The Development Of A Novel Artificial Lung Integrating Oxygenation And Hemofiltration Membrane Fibre Layers In A Single Device

Patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are at high risk of acute kidney injury and fluid overload. Up to 70% of ECMO patients suffer from AKI and half of them will require an additional renal replacement therapy. In the clinical setting, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is applied to provide renal support and
fluid management for ECMO patients. However, so far, lung and kidney support are given by two separate devices, each requiring their own cannulas, pumps and tubing. Despite the frequent combination of ECMO and CRRT in intensive care units (ICUs), the use of separate circuits is not hemodynamically optimized and comprises additional foreign surfaces, increasing the risks of infection, heat loss and thrombus formation. The combination of lung and kidney support in a single device integrating oxygenation and hemofiltration fibres would offer a more sensible treatment reducing serious complications. We aim to develop a novel artificial lung with integrated renal support, which in the future could be utilized in ICUs for the treatment of critically-ill and end-stage lung disease patients with or without restricted kidney function. For that, in a first step, we analysed the number and configuration of oxygenation fibres, which could be replaced by hemofiltration fibres losing less than 10% of gas exchange capacity of a model oxygenator.