The use of a mini bypass circuit for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study is to clinically evaluate minimally invasive mitral valve surgeries (MIMVS) using a mini bypass circuit. The challenge to perfusion is to keep pace with MIMVS, with demonstrated improvements in perfusion-related technologies.


METHODS
From October 28, 2005 to September 10, 2008, we retrospectively evaluated thirty-four elective cases which used the mini-circuit (Medtronic Resting Heart System), with respect to safety, efficacy, cannulation technique, blood usage, resultant hemoglobin, length of ICU and hospital stay, and complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The Medtronic Resting Heart System alleviates many factors, such as high shear stress, turbulence, air to blood interface and decreased oncotic pressure caused by hemodilution, providing more efficient perfusion to our MIMVS patients. We demonstrate, with minor circuit modifications and attention to venous air issues, that this mini-circuit can be used safely and effectively, while being associated with improvements in patient outcomes.
Fernandes
P
P
London Health Sciences Centre, Clinical Perfusion Services, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Philip.fernandes@lhsc.on.ca.
MacDonald
J
J
Cleland
A
A
Mayer
R
R
Fox
S
S
Kiaii
B
B
D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome