RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: We describe a technique to assess blood flow distal to the decannulation site after deployment of Perclose ProGlide (Abbott Vascular, Abbott Park, Ill) in patients on femoral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support. TECHNIQUE: An antegrade distal perfusion catheter was placed in all patients, and decannulation was primarily performed at bedside (N = 11/12). With the VA-ECMO circuit switched off, a needle was inserted into the arterial tubing, passed through the femoral arterial cannula into the artery. The arterial cannula was removed over a wire and the previously placed Proglide Perclose sutures were secured. Back bleeding from the antegrade distal perfusion catheter, confirmed using a three-way connector, indicated blood flow to the superficial femoral artery. This was followed by confirmation of blood flow to the lower leg using a Doppler ultrasound. Hemostasis of the antegrade perfusion catheter was achieved through manual compression. RESULTS: We implemented this technique in 12 patients with a technical success rate of 100%. There were no ipsilateral leg ischemia, bleeding, pseudoaneurysm, or infection after decannulation. CONCLUSIONS: This technique allows prompt assessment of blood flow to the distal leg immediately following arterial decannulation.
RESUMEN
With the growing use of imaging to aid in both diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with a myriad of clinical presentations, incidental findings on imaging have become commonplace. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) is a rare congenital cardiovascular condition that often goes undiagnosed due to lack of symptoms early in life. In adulthood, it can manifest clinically as right-sided heart failure or pulmonary hypertension. We present a case of PAPVC, which, like most cases, was discovered incidentally on chest X-ray.