Cardiac decompression using pulmonary artery drainage during operations with extracorporeal circulation

The authors report their experience with the application of decompression of the left ventricle of the heart by means or active suction from pulmonary artery. This way of heart drainage has been so far used in 53 patients, who were operated in extracorporal circulation. The drainage of pulmonary artery proved to be completely successful. It enabled a sufficient decompression of the left heart and prevented most complications which may occur if a direct drainage of the left ventricle of the heart is applied.