Assisted circulation by phasic external lower body compression.

: Assistance to the systemic venous circulation after experimental acute bypass of the right heart was provided by phasic external compression of the body. Pressure to 60 mm Hg administered to the body below the costal margin at 6--8 cycles/min augmented the circulation by translocation of blood volume from the peripheral to the central circulation, which increased right atrial pressure by 44%, mean cardiac index (61 to 74 m/kg/min) and mean arterial pressure (79 to 100 mm Hg) by 21%. The experimental study was followed by clinical trial of this method of circulatory support after anastomosis of the right atrium to the pulmonary artery (Fontan operations) in nine patients. One-minute cycles of phasic external compression of 45--50 mm Hg for 45 seconds followed by decompression for 15 seconds in patients increased right atrial pressure by 44% (mean increase 7 mm Hg) and systolic arterial pressure by 30% (average 20 mm Hg, range 13--28 mm Hg). Only two patients required inotropic medications; the others received either no medications or nitroprusside during the first 24 hours after surgery. Phasic external compression of the lower body is a simple and effective means of assisting the circulation after the Fontan operation.