Experimental and clinical transplantation : official journal of the Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation
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Exp Clin Transplant · Dec 2017
A Novel Technique of Subclavian Artery Cannulation for Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
The common femoral artery is the standard site for immediate vascular access when initiating adult venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, this approach is fraught with problems such as femoral artery occlusion, distal limb ischemia, reperfusion injury resulting in compartment syndrome, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, thrombosis, embolization, and most importantly, pulmonary edema. Here, we show our preference of using the subclavian artery with a side graft as a different cannulation technique for outflow of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which can avoid complications associated with different access techniques. ⋯ Our protocol for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation uses the subclavian artery for arterial access and provides a safe and perhaps improved means for providing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.