Modifying priming techniques in cardiopulmonary bypass circuit in known case of sickle-cell trait undergoing open heart surgery.

Modifying cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit's priming technique before the onset of CPB in cardiac patients known with sickle-cell disease or sickle cell trait has been observed to be of substantial significance in dealing with such challenges without having any life-threatening consequences. We modified our routine heparinized crystalloid priming of the CPB circuit with partial exchange transfusion by adding donor blood (packed red blood cells), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and bicarbonate. This has helped us bring down the overall sickle cell hemoglobin in the blood thereby reducing its risk of sickling.