Maintaining a Bloodless Field for HeartMate 3 Placement: Splicing an RVAD Outflow Cannula into the CPB Venous Reservoir for Complete LV Emptying

Over the previous 20 years, the use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) increased significantly. Additionally, emerging literature has demonstrated a protective effect of biventricular decompression while on ECMO, with one such strategy including a temporary LVAD and right ventricular assist device (RVAD). The complexity of these operations is increased by the frequency of re-sternotomies, which result in adhesions and difficult access to traditional cannulation sites. In this case report, we present a patient presenting for a re-sternotomy for dLVAD on biventricular support in whom the RVAD outflow cannula was spliced into the cardiopulmonary bypass venous reservoir by the cardiac anesthesiologist. This innovative cannulation strategy allowed for continuation of RVAD flows to prevent thrombosis and active venting of the pulmonary artery to facilitate a bloodless surgical field.