Early LA Venting During Venoaterial ECMO Support

The contralateral femoral vein is assessed with an 7-French(Fr) sheath() and femoral artery is assessed with 5-Fr sheath( ) for fluoroscopic guidance using 5-Fr pig-tail catheter. In some cases trans-esophageal echo is used. The inter-atrial septum in punctured with a standard BRK™tran-septal needle(St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, MN) under direct visualization via an 8-Fr Mullin sheath(St. Jude Medical Inc.). A SAFARI™(Boston Scientific, Galway, Ireland) guidewire is advanced into the LA. An 8-Fr Mullin-sheath is removed and atrial septostomy is performed using 21-Fr dilator. A 17-Fr or 21-Fr Biomedicus Percutaneous Femoral cannula(Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN) is then placed in the LA and was attached to the ECMO circuit using a Y connector.