N. Yoshimura et al., A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR THE PREVENTION OF LOWER-LIMB ISCHEMIA DURING FEMORAL VENOARTERIAL CARDIOPULMONARY SUPPORT, Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 37(6), 1996, pp. 557-559
Objective. We describe a simple technique to prevent the lower limb is
chemia during femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary support (CPS). Pat
ients. Between July 1994 and September 1955, five patients underwent t
he insertion of femoral venoarterial CPS with distal limb perfusion fo
r the tratment of circulatory collapse after cardiac surgery. Methods.
After CPS is established, the ipsilateral superficial femoral artery
(SFA) is punctured downward with a 14-gauge Teflon catheter and connec
ted to the side port of the membrane oxygenator. Results. None of the
patients were complicated by lower limb ischemia for up to 77 hrs on C
PS with distal limb perfusion. Conclusions. Active perfusion through a
14-gauge Teflon catheter downstream to the ipsilateral SFA is effecti
ve in preventing lower limb ischemia during prolonged femoral veno-art
erial CPS after cardiac surgery.