6. COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PERFUSION

Cardiopulmonary bypass is a major invasion of the body and has been equated to a 200 % burn. Every organ system in the body is insulted by it and it is a tribute to the bodies adaptive capacity that millions of cardiac surgical procedures have been performed. Apart from organ dysfunction there are certain problems inherent and unique to the deployment of cardiopulmonary bypass and these are being discussed here.

Air Embolism

Low venous reservoir level

High arterial line pressure