Heart Lung Packs (Extracorporeal Tubing Sets)

Heart Lung Packs, also known as Extracorporeal Tubing Sets (ETS), are specialized sterile disposable medical devices used during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery — that is, open-heart surgery where the patient’s heart and lungs are temporarily taken out of circulation while surgeons operate.

• Purpose

During open-heart surgery, the heart must be stopped for the surgeon to work safely. However, the body still needs oxygenated blood.

This is where the Heart–Lung Machine takes over — and the tubing set (Heart Lung Pack) acts as the “circulatory system” connecting the patient to that machine.

 

• Main Components of a Heart Lung Pack

Although exact configurations vary by manufacturer and surgery type, most sets include:

 

Component                                       Function

Venous line –                                            Drains deoxygenated blood from the patient’s body to the reservoir

Arterial line –                                            Returns oxygenated blood to the patient

Cardioplegia line –                                   Delivers cardiologic solution to arrest (stop) the heart safely

Suction lines –                                           Collect blood from the surgical field and send it to the reservoir

Sampling ports –                                       Allow monitoring of gases, pressure, and temperature

Vent line –                                                   Removes air and fluids from the left ventricle or other heart chambers

Reservoir (integrated or separate) –           Collects and filters venous blood

Connectors & stopcocks –                         provide secure links between lines and devices

 

• Materials

They are typically made from medical-grade, biocompatible PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or phthalate-free materials, with components sterilized using ethylene oxide (EtO) gas.

Some advanced tubing sets include anticoagulant coatings (e.g., heparin) to minimize clot formation.

 

• Customization

Each Heart Lung Pack is usually custom-designed for Pediatric, adult, or neonatal surgeries

Surgeon or hospital preferences (e.g., tubing lengths, connectors, oxygenator models)

Manufacturers often refer to these as “custom packs” or “customized extracorporeal circuits.”