Alternative Technique to Cannulate the Descending Aorta for Abdominal Organ Procurement in a Hemodynamically Unstable Patient

Abstract

During organ procurement, maintaining adequate organ perfusion is crucial. Hemodynamic instability may compromise organ viability and demand quick intervention, sometimes rapid, early cannulation of vessels, so that organs may be salvaged. In this case report of an unstable donor with large retroperitoneal hematoma, a surgical approach is presented that has previously not been described. The technique facilitated hemodynamic stability while allowing rapid cannulation of the retrocardiac descending aorta.

A Simple Technique for Aortic Cannulation in Organ Donors with Advanced Aortic Disease

“…Traditional abdominal aortic cannulation is difficult in these patients, as it is in hemo dynamically unstable, non-heart-beating cadaveric donors and in donors with a massive retroperitoneal hematoma. Kollar et al, 4 Fukozawa et al, 5 Bene detti et al, 6 and Reich et al 7 have proposed techniques for insitu flushing in such patients. We propose a simple technique for cannulation of the thoracic aorta in these circumstances.…”