Patency of common carotid artery and internal jugular vein after a simple vessel sparing cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

Background Common carotid artery and internal jugular vein are commonly cannulated for establishment of peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support. We present our results of a vessel sparing cannulation technique for neck vessels, which helps maintain vessel patency after decannulation. Methods All patients who underwent ECMO, between January 2004 and January 2013 at a single center, were retrospectively reviewed. Follow up data for the patency of common carotid artery (CCA) and internal jugular vein (IJV) after decannulation were recorded. Results Twenty-four consecutive patients who were successfully decannulated after VA ECMO support who underwent vessel sparing cannulation were retrospectively reviewed. Follow up data were unavailable in 4 and 1 patient did not survive. Amongst the remaining 19 patients the median duration of ECMO support in the remaining was 7 (IQR; 4–10) days. Follow up studies documenting vessel patency were available for IJV in 18 patients and CCA in 14 patients. At a median follow up of 137 days (IQR; 35–7240) 15 (78%) patients had patent IJVs and 14 (100%) patients had patent CCAs. Conclusion The simple vessel sparing technique is effective in allowing restoration of the patency of the neck vessels after ECMO decannulation. Level of evidence Case series with no comparison group (Level IV).