How do you check for cavitation in an ECMO system?

In the context of ECMO systems, checking for cavitation is crucial due to the potential for harm it can cause to the pump and overall system. One effective way to prevent cavitation is to avoid clamping on the negative pressure side, as this can lead to a significant drop in pressure and result in the formation of vapor bubbles in the blood, which is what cavitation effectively is.

When negative pressure is increased improperly, the surrounding liquid can evaporate and form bubbles, which can collapse violently and damage the pump or create air embolism risks. By avoiding clamping on the negative pressure side, you maintain appropriate pressure gradients and blood flow, reducing the likelihood of cavitation occurring.

The other options focus on different methods of monitoring or assessing the ECMO system but do not directly address the prevention strategy related to the maintenance of pressure in terms of cavitation. Listening for unusual sounds, visually capturing the pump's action, and measuring pressure drops, while valuable for maintenance, do not effectively prevent or directly check for cavitation in the same impactful way as managing the pressure dynamics does.