Ultrafiltration as a method for regulating the volume balance during correction of transposition of great vessels in newborns

Correction of congenital heart disease in newborns under extracorporeal circulation is accompanied by fluid overload. To eliminate this pathological state, the method of ultrafiltration is commonly used. The paper presents a comparative analysis of two methods of ultrafiltration in the arterial switch procedure in 20 newborns with transposition of the great vessels. In group I (n = 10) we conducted conventional ultrafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass; and in group II (n = 10), modified ultrafiltration after completing the cardiopulmonary bypass was used. The data obtained indicate that the inotropic support, the need in blood transfusion during the immediate follow-up and the mechanical ventilation duration were significantly lower during modified ultrafiltration as compared to conventional one.