Cardiopulmonary support for emergent innominate artery repair complicating tracheal surgery

Innominate artery rupture is a rare, but usually fatal, complication of tracheal stenosis. Although prevention is key, prompt, appropriate intervention can be life saving. Hemorrhage and airway must simultaneously be controlled. Most deaths occur from exsanguination with adequate ventilation before surgical repair can be effected. In the ideal situation, the event would occur in the operating room. We report on just such a case with concomitant respiratory failure requiring cardiopulmonary support in order to accomplish definitive therapy.