AW: [HSF] Deairing the heart

[Hgrmd at aol.com]

Roberto,
  Greetings.  My air removal strategy for closed chest cases is  what I 
learned from you and Fred.  For the open cases, I attach a sump to  the CO2 line 
and place it intrapericardial.  When closing the left  atriotomy, I place the 
CO2 line with the sump catheter directly into the left  atrium and place the 
root vent on suction.  After placing the last stitch  in the atriotomy, I stop 
the root vent a few seconds prior to removing the CO2  line, so as not to pull 
air into the left atrium.  That generally works  like a charm, though not as 
well as for the closed chest cases.
Hal
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