Compulsory drainage of inferior vena cava to obtain bloodless field in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Gaining bloodless field in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is crucial for a successful surgery. We here demonstrate a simple method to obtain bloodless field in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery with only single venous cannula through the femoral vein. A dual-stage venous cannula is inserted through the femoral vein, with its tip located deep in superior vena cava. After establishing full flow, the inferior vena cava (IVC) was snared. Returning blood from the IVC was blocked at the snare, and drained through the side holes at the midportion of the cannula. This technique collapsed the right atrium, and made the left atrium almost bloodless. Pressures of the femoral vein measured in 28 patients were 9.5 ± 4.1 mmHg before bypass, 6.8 ± 4.8 mmHg before snaring IVC, and 7.2 ± 4.8 mmHg after snaring. By blocking returning blood from the lower body, venous congestion of the lower body did not occur.