Peripheral vascular complications following totally endoscopic cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND Clinical application of minimally invasive cardiac surgery has increased annually. Cardiopulmonary bypass is established by peripheral cannulation during minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The methodology of peripheral cannulation has unique characteristics, which have associated risks and complications. Few studies have been conducted on this topic. In this study, we focused on complications of peripheral cannulation in totally endoscopic cardiac surgery. METHODS Patients who underwent totally endoscopic cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass established by peripheral cannulation at our institution between January 2019 and June 2020 were reviewed. Specific cannulation strategies and related cannulation complications were noted. RESULTS One hundred forty-eight patients underwent totally endoscopic cardiac surgery. One hundred forty-eight cannulations were performed in the femoral artery and vein, and eleven were performed in the internal jugular vein (combined with the femoral vein). The median size of the femoral artery cannula was 22Fr, and that of the venous canula was 24Fr. One patient died of retroperitoneal haematoma due to femoral artery injury. Three patients had postoperative lower limb oedema. One patient had a postoperative diagnosis of femoral vein thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS Different from cannulation in patients with aortic dissection and aneurysms, femoral artery cannulation is safe in totally endoscopic cardiac surgery. Venous cannulation is characterized by a large-bore venous cannula and a short period of use. There are few reports about complications of venous cannulation. The main complication in this study was mechanical injury, and the key to preventing this injury is meticulous manipulation during surgery.