Heparinless left heart bypass for resection of thoracic aortic aneurysms

Our clinical experience employing heparinless left heart bypass for the resection of twenty-three thoracic aneurysms is presented. In our current technic of heparinless left heart bypass, plastic tubing coated with nonthrombogenic polyurethane-polyvinyl-graphite material and a conventional roller pump are employed. The reduced size of the aneurysm below the aortic clamp during bypass facilitates careful dissection of the aneurysm and the aorta. Twenty-two of twenty-three patients underwent successful thoracic aneurysmectomy with this technic. None had subsequent paraplegia and the postoperative blood loss was minimal. Heparinless left heart bypass is a simple and safe procedure to facilitate thoracic aneurysm resection.