A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR THE PREVENTION OF LOWER-LIMB ISCHEMIA DURING FEMORAL VENOARTERIAL CARDIOPULMONARY SUPPORT

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.