Current practice of hypothermia in British cardiac surgery

A questionnaire was sent to all centres of cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom, enquiring into their current use of hypothermia. Moderate hypothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass and the Drew technique of profound hypothermia are becoming less popular, each technique being used in only two of the 30 centres which replied. Moderate hypothermia as an integral part of the cardiopulmonary bypass is used on occasions in 24 centres. Although some centres use moderate hypothermia out of habit, the main benefits from its use are considered to be the protection afforded to the myocardium and a greater safety margin in the event of technical difficulties. Profound hypothermia, usually induced by means of the pump oxygenator, followed by circulatory arrest is becoming increasingly popular for the correction of complex congenital anomalies in infants.