Venous Cannula Flashcards
picking cannulas
you pick cannula size based on the FLOW you need, while standing under maximum pressure drop
Durometer
difference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the cannula/tubing
Durometer increases –> pressure increases –> volume decreases –> less compliance –> less flow
wired cannulas increase thickness of the wall
ribbon technology is flat –> decreases thickness of wall –> increases compliance –> increases flow
Aortic cannula
selection is based on calculated flow
if flow is < 5 –> use 7.0 mm (21 french)
if flow is > 5 –> use 8.0 mm (24 french)
the smaller the french, the higher the pressure drop.
cannula sometimes goes inside a graft
EX: axillary –> graft size will be in mm
can be curved or straight
Hemoglobin x 3 = HEMATOCRIT
Calculating French cannula size
mm x 3 = french cannula size
arterial cannulas
a) pressure drop maximum = 100 mmHg
1. Remember, arterial pressure is POSITIVE (pushing)
2. Pressure drops are tested with water; blood is more viscous –> more resistance –> slightly decreased flow
3. main sources of resistance are size of cannula (radius), length of tubing and systemic vascular resistance of the patient
b) side ports comming off arterial cannula can be used for different things
–> cerebral antegrade perfusion
–> direct arterial line pressure - closest pressure to the pressure in the aorta
anatomy of aorta
- aortic annulus around the valve
- Ascending aorta is composed of
I. sinus of Valsalva - where the coronary arteries branch from
ii. sinotubular junction - where aortic root aneurysm would be
iii. tubular ascending aorta - aortic arch consists of the 3 branches:
I. Innominate artery –> right common carotid and right subclavian artery
ii. Left common carotid artery
iii. Left subclavian artery - ligamentum arteriosum - small fibrous remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosum
- Descending aorta
I. Thoracic aorta - from the aortic arch to the diaphragm
ii. Abdominal aorta - from the diaphragm to the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries
Ascending aorta
is used in most procedures for arterial cannula placement
must be healthy meaning –> needs a competent aortic valve
contraindications for ascending aorta cannulation:
1. Porcelain aorta - excessive calcification of the aorta; can be seen on TEE or palpated by surgeon
2. anatomically short ascending aorta that doesn’t have enough length for cannulation and the cross calmp
cannulating the aorta steps:
- Purse string sutures are placed on the ascending aorta
–> I. two separate sutures placed in a circle, going opposite directions –> DRAWSTRING EFFECT
–> ii. purse string sutures are used for arterial cannula, venous cannula, CPG cannula and vents - Tourniquets(bumper) hold the sutures
I. don’t lose the sutures
ii. keeps tight tension on the sutures
iii. rubber stopper on top or suture is knotted to prevent loosening - systolic pressure is dropped below 100 mmHg
- stab incision is made inside of the purse string sutures
- aortic cannula inserted
- tourniquets snared down
- pressure goes back up
reasons to use Femoral artery cannulation
- if there is an aortic dissection or aneurysm
- porcelain aorta or any reason that makes aorta cannulation undesirable
- sometimes used prophylactically as defense/preventing - achieve arterial flow prior to sternotomy
- reentry sternotomy/re-op –> significant scar tissue, heart is stuck to sternum –> femoral artery us used to go on by pass –> it decompresses the heart and moves away from the sternum –> surgeon can perform a sternotomy
risks of femoral cannulation
- Dissection of the arterial wall extending to the entire aorta after blood is perfused through the cannula
- Limb ischemia
–> a) oxygenated blood is flowing RETROGRADE (from lower body to the head)
–> b) Distal limb perfusion is used during ECMO (long periods of time)
Different methods of doing femoral cannulation (artery or vein)
–> femoral cannulation (artery or vein) must be a straight cannula
Femoral cannulation must be BELOW inguinal ligament
–> above the inguinal ligament is the retroperitoneal space
–> if the artery dissects above the inguinal ligament then the pt will bleed into their abdomen (retroperitoneal bleed)
- Open femoral artery cannulation - purse string sutures hold cannula in place
- Percutaneous (closed) - through the skin, using seldinger technique
i. “ Temponaded off” - leaking blood fills compartment and “tomponades itself” meaning the accumulated blood in the space clsed the hole where it was leaking from –> if you open this space then it will start bleeding again
Fem-fem VV ECMO
- bullet tip cannula goes into right femoral vein and sits in the RA
- Multistage cannula goes in the left femoral vein –> crosses over –> IVC –> sits at the junction of the IVC and RA
- there needs to be good spatial relationship between the two cannulas to avoid sucking back oxygenated blood to the ECMO circuit
axillary artery
i. must be done open (purse string) and w/ a side graft - CANNOT be done via Seldinger technique
1. graft allows for dispersion of flow
2. cannula goes inside the graft
ii. must be a straight cannula
Advantages of cannulating axillary artery
- arterial return can be established prior to the sternotomy
- antegrade flow (forward natural flow) –> less likely to cause cerebral atheroembolization
- Perfusion of the right common carotid artery can be continued with the aortic arch open when the arch repair is complex and time consuming
–> allows antegrade cerebral perfusion
Reasons to use axillary artery over femoral artery
if the transverse (aortic arch) and descending aorta has atheroma (fatty material that forms plaques in the arteries) that may embolize into the brain with retrograde flow from the femoral cannula
risks of cannulating axillary artery
High risk bleeding: small artery, small cannula, high flow, high pressure –> if you’re losing blood then ask surgeon how the axillary site is