In children, many of the standard operative sites are either occluded, stenosed, or too small for the smallest manufactured cannulas. In these instances, it may be feasible to utilize angio-catheters for arterial access until central cannulation can be achieved safely. In an in vitro model, we have simulated a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and arterial cannulation with angio-catheters.
It appears that angio-catheters may be used with acceptable flow hemodynamics for blood vessels too small for standard cannulas.
We have performed this successfully in a 5 kg child.
We have completed the cardiopulmonary bypass model and are ready to submit the hemodynamic data. We would like to submit to a national meeting and hopefully for publication thereafter.
