Modified aortic cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass in neonatal piglet model

Animal models are still essential for studying effects of cardiopulmonary bypass. We describe modifications in cannulation technique for a neonatal piglet model, which may also serve as an "everyday" technique in congenital cardiac surgery (age of animals <7 days; mean body weight 2.9 +/- 0.5 kg). Surgical approach through median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass was established by cannulating right atrium and ascending aorta with a modified aortic root cannula. Left ventricular venting was performed placing a cannula into the apex and connecting this to the venous drainage line. The described technique has been applied in 19 cases, all but one were without technical problems.