Objective: We describe a simple technique to prevent the lower limb ischemia during femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary support (CPS).
Patients: Between July 1994 and September 1995, five patients underwent the insertion of femoral veno-arterial CPS with distal limb perfusion for the treatment of circulatory collapse after cardiac surgery.
Methods: After CPS is established, the ipsilateral superficial femoral artery (SFA) is punctured downward with a 14-gauge Teflon catheter and connected to the side port of the membrane oxygenator.
Results: None of the patients were complicated by lower limb ischemia for up to 77 hrs on CPS with distal limb perfusion.
Conclusions: Active perfusion through a 14-gauge Teflon catheter downstream to the ipsilateral SFA is effective in preventing lower limb ischemia during prolonged femoral veno-arterial CPS after cardiac surgery.