Simple Technique for Central Venous Cannulation with Cannula-Free Wound in Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery

There are several approaches to venous cannulation in minimally invasive aortic valve surgery. Frequently used options include central dual-stage right atrial cannulation, or peripheral femoral venous cannulation. During minimally invasive aortic surgery via an upper hemisternotomy, central venous cannulas may obstruct the surgeon's visualization of the aortic valve and root, or require extension of the skin incision, while femoral venous cannulation requires an additional incision, time and resources. Here we describe a technique for central venous cannulation during minimally invasive aortic surgery, utilizing a novel device, to facilitate simple, convenient, and expedient central cannulation with a cannula-free surgical working space.