Veno-venous bypass to prevent myocardial ischemia during right heart bypass operation in PA, IVS, and RV dependent coronary circulation

There is a risk of myocardial ischemia in patients with pulmonary atresia a nd intact ventricular septum associated with right ventricle dependent coro nary circulation, especially during open heart operation. Cardiopulmonary b ypass unloads the right ventricle, and thereby reduces the coronary perfusi on pressure in an area that is wholly or partly dependent on the right vent ricle. We present a veno-venous bypass technique to keep the right ventricl e beating and ejecting to supply the oxygenated blood into the right ventri cle dependent myocardium and consequently to prevent myocardial ischemia du ring right heart bypass operation. (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surg eons.