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The de-airing clamp in cardiac surgery
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Insights
A novel aortic clamp aids in de-airing the heart during open-heart surgery. This specialized clamp helps remove residual air, improving patient safety post-procedure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Device Design
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- De-airing the heart is a critical step in open-heart surgery.
- Residual air in the heart can lead to complications after aortic cross-clamp removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a specially designed clamp for continued de-airing of the heart.
- To report clinical experience with this novel aortic clamp.
Main Methods:
- A specialized clamp was designed to partially occlude the ascending aorta, creating a pocket for air trapping.
- The clamp was used in 250 patients undergoing open-heart surgery.
- Post-procedure, 50% of patients underwent ultrasonography to assess for air bubbles.
Main Results:
- The clamp facilitated the trapping of residual air from the left ventricle.
- Ultrasonography confirmed the absence of air bubbles in 50% of patients within 20 minutes of aortic cross-clamp release.
- The device has been in use since 1990, indicating sustained utility.
Conclusions:
- The described aortic clamp is an effective tool for de-airing the heart during open-heart surgery.
- Its use can help minimize residual air, potentially reducing post-operative complications.
- The clamp represents a valuable addition to surgical instruments for cardiac procedures.
Abstract:
De-airing of the heart in open heart surgery is a necessary routine. Most of the air is evacuated from the heart before the aortic cross clamp is removed, but the de-airing may be continued even after declamping. One way to continue de-airing is to partially clamp the ascending aorta, proximally to the aortic cannula, in order to create a pocket for trapping residual air coming from the left ventricle. This paper describes a clamp specially designed and developed for this purpose. It has been used in our center since 1990 and our experience is reported. The clamp has been used on 250 patients and in 50% ultrasonography has been used to examine the heart being free from air bubbles within 20 min from releasing the aortic cross clamp.