70 T. Benedict et al.: J Extra Corpor Technol 2026, 58, 65--72
Figure 6. Post-oxygenator average GME count over 3 min.
Figure 7. Post-oxygenator average GME volume over 3 min.
related to data collection can be found in the following figures: GME Postoxygenator average GME count over 3 minutes( Figure 6), Post-oxygenator average GME volume over 3 minutes( Figure 7), Average GME count pertaining to each group at all EDAC sensors( Figure 8), Average GME volume pertaining to each group at all EDAC sensors( Figure 9).
Discussion
These trials found that using a primed venous line resulted in significantly less GME production than that of the experimental groups. Additionally, initiating CPB instantly, rather than waiting for patient volume to reach the reservoir, also creates significantly more GME. Using higher VAVD pressures when initiating CPB with a dry venous line creates more GME within the circuit than at lower vacuum pressures; however, this was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that using a dry venous line technique will create more GME in the circuit( or transmitting to the patient, in practice) than using a traditional primed line. However, GME embolic load may be reduced under the conditions of lower vacuum pressure and slower initiation of CPB, allowing blood from the patient to partially fill the reservoir first. Correlation testing indicates that vacuum pressure contributed more to GME variation between groups than the initiation technique, with an adjusted R 2 of 0.473 for VAVD pressure versus 0.138 for the initiation technique. Together, this represents a 61 % correlation between the variables manipulated in this study and GME variation. It is reasonable to conclude that ambient vibrations,