The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Improved technology has allowed us to develop support pumps that can be applied rapidly and safely. A system utilizing thin-walled (4 mm inner diameter) percutaneously inserted sheaths has been designed for rapid bedside arterial and central venous cannulation to establish femoral arterial and venous cardiopulmonary bypass. ⋯ Application time was approximately five minutes. This system appears to be an easily applied and reliable short-term mechanical support device.