Introduction
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been used by
cardiothoracic surgeons since 1953.1 Aortoatrial cannulation
during open-heart surgery was the standard
technique and is the most common approach for
CPB. Complex surgical procedures, including redo
sternotomy, aortic dissection repair and minimally
invasive cardiac surgery (MICS), have led cardiac
surgeons to develop new techniques for cannulation.
Peripheral artery access for CPB, including femoral
and axillary cannulation, has become an important
option for surgeons performing complex procedures
or MICS.