Minimum time temperature regulation and patient safety during cardiopulmonary bypass

The regulation of patient temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery according to a minimum-time strategy was explored. A minimal two-compartment model was used to describe human thermoregulation. Extracorporeal heat exchange was modeled empirically in terms of how the heat exchanger efficiency changes with blood flow. By applying temperature-dependant constraints, it was possible to maintain key patient safety standards while still minimizing the total time required for cooling and rewarming