Methodologies, Devices, and New Surgical Concepts: Novel System for Percutaneous Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass (PCPB) has recently come to the forefront of medicine as a technique for resuscitating and supporting patients in various clinical situations. Current systems utilize small-diameter cannulas to aspirate blood under high suction into the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Aspiration-based systems have several disadvantages including risk of air embolism, blood hemolysis, and cavitation. Additionally, they are suboptimal for use during open-heart surgical procedures. A system with a venous cannula that employs gravity drainage has been evaluated. Once advanced into position over a guide- wire, the stylet is removed, causing the basket near the end of the cannula to expand. Blood flows into the cannula from side holes and the basket region, which prevents the vessel wall or atrium from collapsing around the catheter and impeding venous drainage. Hemodynamic, hematologic, and histologic examinations were performed on eight anesthetized mongrel dogs during 2 h of PCPB. All anim...