Further decrease in subclinical hemolysis utilizing 12.7 mm tubing in the arterial roller head.

In a series of 20 consecutive perfusions done for the same surgeon, 9.54 mm tubing was used in 10 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures (Group 1), and 12.7 mm (1/2 in) internal diameter tubing was used in 8 CABG operations and 2 single valve replacements (Group 2). Extracorporeal circulation techniques were otherwise identical in all procedures. While no statistically significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2 were noted for pump time or platelet counts, it was observed that the patients undergoing perfusions with 12.7 mm internal diameter tubing showed significantly less hemolysis.