Original Article

Perfusion Considerations for Infants Weighing Ten Kilograms or Less

Donald N Sharp Memorial—Children’s Hospital Cardiac Center, San Diego, CA

^* Direct communications to: Mary Hartley-Winkler, R.N., C. C. P., Cardiovascular Perfusion Inc., 4219 Rueda Dr., San Diego, CA 92124

Abstract

Technical and philosophical perfusion considerations for infants weighing 10 kg. or less are addressed. Experience derived from 178 infants weighing from 1.7 to 10 Kg. is reviewed.

Specific topics include cannulation, priming, equipment selection, deep hypothermia vs. normothermia vs. moderate hypothermia, and special considerations in congenital cardiac surgery.

From January 1979 to December 1983, 178 consecutive infants weighing 10 Kg. or less have undergone complete surgical correction of congenital cardiac defects at the Donald Sharp—Children’s Hospital Cardiac Center in San Diego. The smallest infant weighed 1700 Gms. The average weight was 7.1 Kg. Ages ranged from one day to four years (average age 13^¾ months). The overall operative mortality was 8% and was unrelated to age or weight, but was directly related to the complexity of the surgical repair. Of the eleven deaths, none were directly attributed to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).