Elective hypothermia during extracorporeal circulation with a new heat exchanging filming oxygenator

Abstract 1. 1. Hypothermia has been used in conjunction with extracorporeal circulation in 172 consecutive cases. 2. 2. The last eighty-four procedures have been performed with a new disc oxygenator with an integral heat exchanger allowing for the election of more profound hypothermia. 3. 3. Mild hypothermia has the effect of lowering the postoperative morbidity following cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas, profound hypothermia with extracorporeal circulation has resulted in a decreased mortality from the surgical correction of the most complex intracardiac lesions.