CANNULATION
The establishment and
maintenance of
adequate vascular
access is essential
for CPB or ECMO
Introduction
Primary function of cpb to divert blood from
heart and lungs.
Blood is drained by gravity siphonage through
svc/ivc/RA
To return the blood to the systemic arterial
system.
Blood returned through aortic cannula placed in
the ascending aorta.
Peripheral cannulation using femoral or other
means used when central cannulation is not
possible.
Gravity drain
Two constraints
1) Venous reservoir – below the
level of patient
2) The lines must be filled with
blood or fluid.
Gravity drain contd.,
The amount of venous drainage is determined by
1) Pressure in central vein(Pt.
blood volume)
2) The height difference b/w pt. `
and top of blood level in
venous reservoir.
3) Resistance in venous cannulas
Venous drainage
Venous drainage is affected by
1) Intravascular volume and venous
compliance.
2) Sympathetic tone
3) Venous chattering/fluttering
Types and size of venous cannulas
Mainly two types
1) Single stage
2) Two stage(Cavoatrial).
Made of flexible plastic
Wire reinforced(prevents kinking)
Straight or right angled.
Tips made of thin plastic or metal(for better id/od
ratio)
1/3
rd
of total flow – svc and 2/3
rd
–ivc
Not ment for reuse but cost constraints have led
to resuse.
Connection to the patient
Accomplished by inserting cannula into
RA
Three basic approaches
1) Bicaval
2) Single Atrial
3) Cavo arterial(two stage approach)
Comparison of venous cannulation methods
Bicaval single
With
tourniquet
Withou
tourniquet
Atrial cavoatrial
Atrial
incisions
2 2 1 1
Speed of
cannulation
Slowest Slow Fast Fast
Technical
difficulty
Most
difficult
DifficultEasy Moderately
easy
Rt. Heart
exclusion
Complete IncompleteNo no
Comparison of venous cannulation
methods contd.,
Bicaval single
With
tourniquet
Without
tourniquet
Atrial cavoatrial
Coronary
sinus return
Excluded Partial Included included
Rt.heart
decompres
sion
None Fair Good best
Rt.heart
decomp
with heart
lifted up
Bad Bad Bad good
Bicaval single
With
tourniq
uet
withoutAtrial cavoatrial
Caval drianage Best About
as
good
Not as good
for ivc
Not as good
for svc
Caval drainagewith
heart lifted up
Good Good Bad Ivc
adeauate
svc bad
Adequate venous
drinage forall types
of surgery
Yes Yes No no
Bicaval single
With
tourniquet
without atrial cavoatrial
Potential
rewarming
of heart by
systemic
venous
retrun
No Yes Yes yes
myocardial
preservati
on
Best Good Suboptima
l
contraversi
al
Cavoatrial Vs Bicaval
Two stage Vs Bicaval
Persistent LSVC
LSVC present in .3% to .5% of population
LSVC usually drains into coronary sinus and
than into the RA.
In some cases LSVCdrains into LA
LSVC should be suspected when large coronary
sinus is noted on echo.
Suspect LSCV when Rsvc small
Left innominate vein small or absent
Solution
Use cardiotomy suction in the coronary
sinus
Cannulate LSVC
Precautions
Regulation of negative pressure
Not to exceed – 60 to – 100 mmhg
20 mmhg is enough
Vacuum applied after initiation of CPB
Complications of augmented return
Hemolysis due to excessive – ve
pressure.
Collapse of venous structures possible
Aspiration of macro and micro air
Presence of PFO can cause air embolism.
Complication associated with
venous drainage
Atrial dysrhymias
Bleeding of the atrium
Air embolization (low arterial pressure could
cause systemic embolization with potential right
to left shunts)
Malposition of tips(inserting the tip into
azygos,innominate or hepatic veins or across an
ASD into left heart)
Caval tapes may occlude venous lines
Causes of low venous return
Inadequate height
Malposition of venous cannulas
Obstruction or excess resistance
Inadequate venous pressure(venodilation or
hypovolemia)
Kinks, airlocks or insertion of PA balloon
catheter into a cannula.
During rewarming tendency for kinking is
more(softening of tubes)
Surgical manuplation.
Choice of cannula
Influenced by
1.The planned operation
2.The distribution of atherosclerotic disease
Arterial cannulation
Cannulas
Available in different types
1) Rt angled tips
2) Tapered
3) Flanges
Narrowest part of ECC.
Hemodynamic charecteristics
Pressure drop
Performance index(pressure gradient versus OD
at any given flow)
The use of thin metal or hard plastic for the tip
provides the best id/od ratio
Pressure gradients exceeding 100 mmhg are
associated with excessive hemolysis and protien
denaturation
Jetting effect produced by small cannulas may
damage the ineterior aortic wall,dislodge
atheroemboli(sandblasting) and cause
dissection
Connection to the patient
Ascending Aorta
Femoral artery
Abdominal aorta
Auxillary artery
Left common carotid artery(LCCA)
LV apex
Ascending Aorta
Advantages ease,safe and no additional
inscision.
Optimal BP during cannulation – 70 to 80
mmhg(mean) systolic – 100
If pressure too high – greater chance of tear
and dissection
If pressure too low - Aorta tend to collapse,
difficult to make inscision and greater risk of
tear
Aortic cannulation site
Ascending aorta contd.,
After cannulation confirm intraluminal
placement by noting pulsatile flow in the
systemic line pressure.
CPB line pressure approx = radial artery
Proper position of cannula tip is
important(1 to 2 cms into aorta)
Directed towards middle of tranverse arch
Potential complications
Atherosclerosis with or without
calcification
Atherosclerosis is a risk factor for
perioperative aortic dissection and post op
renal dysfunction
Inabillity to introduce cannula
Intramural placement
Dislodgement of atheroemboli
Air embolism from the cannula
Injury to back wall of aorta
Complication contd.,
Persistent bleeding around the cannula.
Malposition of the tip to retrograde position
or even across the aortic valve.
malposition against vessel wall or into the
aortic arch vessels
Obstruction of aorta infants
Aortic dissection and high cpb line
pressure
Complications summary
Difficult insertion
Bleeding
Tear in the aortic wall
Malposition of cannula tip
Atheromatous emboli
Failure to remove all air from arterial line
Injury to aortic back wall
Points to be observed during aortic
cannulation
High systemic line pressure
High pressure in radial artery
Asymmetric coolling of the neck
Facial edema,dilated pupils
Before cpb radial artery catheter may
reveal sudden damping
Sand blasting effect
Sand blasting effect
Femoral artery
Indications
1) Aneurysm in ascending aorta
2) no space avilable
3) Severe calcification
4) Re-do surgeries
Abdominal aorta
cannulating the abdominal aorta through a
graft is reported.
Auxillary artery cannulation
Performed either directly or through an
attached 8mm graft.
Advantages
1.Less likely to have atheroscleorosis
2.Has good collateral flow
3.Decreases the risk of ischemic
complications
4.Healing is better and wound
complications are less
Advantages of auxillary artery
cannulation contd.,
Its antegrade flow also reduces the
chances of cerebral atheroembolization
Used for establishing deep hypothermia
before repair of type A aortic dissection
Rt.auxillary artery is more favoured.
Complications of auxillary artery
cannulation.
Auxillary artery injury,thrombosis
Ischemia or compartmental syndrome in
the arm
Poor perfusion due to high resistance due
to small artery or local dissection
Axillary artery cannulation
Innominate artery
Eliminates the need of second incision
7 to 8 mm cannula directed towards the
aortic arch
Left common carotid artery(LCCA)
Approach through extrathoracic incision in
the neck and 8 mm graft sutured end to
side and 22fr cannula inserted
Used for selective perfusion of the brain at
10 to 15 ml/kg/min at 15 degrees
centrigrade.
Perfusion pressure < 80 mmhg(Needle
placed in common caroted artery)
Left ventricular apex
Cannulating the LV apex and passing the
cannula across the aortic valve in the
aortic root is reported.
Arterial cannulation
Ascending aorta or
arch
Femoral or iliac
AccessibilityEasy More difficult
Additional
incision
No yes
Cannula size Usually unlimitedlimited
Obstruct
ascending aorta
Possible no
Risk of
malperfusion of
arch vessels
Yes no
Perfusion
direction
Antegrade retrograde
Leg ishcemia No possible
Ascending aorta or archFemoral or illiac
Aortic dissection
incidence
.01 to .09% .2 to 1%
Leg wound and
artery complications
0 4%
Indications Most cases When aortic cannulation
not feasible
Contra indicationsAscending aortic
aneurysms, diseased
ascending aorta
When aortic cannulation
feasible,occlusive
disease of vessels