Polycarbonate plastics are used in the construction of cardiopulmonary bypass oxygenator shells. Oxygenator failure due to contact with organic and anesthetic solvents can occur. An incident in which bathing alcohol was spilled onto a hollow fiber oxygenator, necessitating its replacement during cardiopulmonary bypass, prompted this case report. We recommend additional safety precautions and urge manufacturers to label components constructed of such material to prevent this potentially catastrophic event.