Femoral Arterial Cannulation

Many children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease have had prior operations. Re-operative sternotomy carries with it the risk of cardiac injury and the need for emergent peripheral cannulation. Our first aim is to demonstrate that peripheral arterial cannulation may be lifesaving in cases of complicated sternal re-entry in children and that angio-catheters can be utilized when vessels are too small for standard cannulas. Our secondary aim is to present a case report of successful femoral cannulation in a 5 kg child.