Thoracoabdominal aortic repair in a 190-kg patient: Optimized perfusion with two oxygenators

A 190-kg patient was referred because of an acute type B aortic dissection. Conservative management was initially performed but the 34-year-old patien t was shown to have an increasing aortic diameter 2 months later and was sc heduled for elective repair of the thoracoabdominal aorta. To anticipate po tential difficulties with perfusion and oxygenation the cardiopulmonary byp ass circuit was constructed with two parallel oxygenators, which allowed an adequate oxygen supply through all phases of the intervention and accelera ted the estimated rewarming time. (Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:347-9) (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.