Introduction
The development and evolution of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has proven
fundamental in the era of cardiac surgery, allowing maintenance of
end-organ perfusion during a vast array of surgical
procedures1. Since its development, improved
technologies have aimed at reducing pump-related complications, which
include improved oxygenators, pumps, defoaming agent, and heparin-bonded
circuits2. Despite advancement in this technology over
the past century, CPB continues to be a main source of morbidity during
cardiac surgical procedures.
Prolonged CPB perfusion times have been associated with various
complications such as acute renal injury3–5,
prolonged mechanical ventilation6, and increased
intensive care times7. Additionally, increased CPB
times have also been associated with increased embolic burden in the
brain following surgery8, and postoperative
mortality9–11. For these reasons, it is paramount
that efficient, expeditious operations be carried out when CPB is
employed to ensure optimal outcomes. However, it is unknown if outcomes
following very-long CPB runs should be considered futile. This study
evaluated the outcomes of cardiac operations associated with very-long
CPB times.