A technique for cardioplegic infusion and left heart venting during coronary artery bypass grafting.

A method for administering cardioplegia and venting the left heart that utilizes a single cannula in the aortic root and minimizes the risk of air entering the left heart is presented. This technique permits precise control of flow and pressure of the cardioplegic solution. Left heart decompression is accomplished by siphon drainage with controlled negative pressure. This method effectively vents the left heart while preventing aspiration of air around the cannula insertion site or retrograde through an opened coronary artery with a nonocclusive proximal lesion during the construction of the distal anastomoses.