A simple technique for the prevention of lower limb ischemia during femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary support.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a simple technique to prevent the lower limb ischemia during femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary support (CPS).


METHODS
Between July 1994 and September 1995, five patients underwent the insertion of femoral veno-arterial CPS with distal limb perfusion for the treatment 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 connected 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 CPS with distal limb perfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Active perfusion through a 14-gauge Teflon catheter downstream to the ipsilateral SFA is effective in preventing lower limb ischemia during prolonged femoral veno-arterial CPS after cardiac surgery.
Yoshimura
N
N
Department of Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Japan.
Ataka
K
K
Nakagiri
K
K
Azami
T
T
Yoshida
M
M
Yamashita
C
C
Okada
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion