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Air Lock and Embolism Upon Attempted Initiation of Cardiopulmonary Bypass While Using Vacuum-Assisted Venous Drainage
VACUUM-ASSISTED VENOUS DRAINAGE (VAVD) for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) improves venous drainage via small cannulae.1 Complications specific to VAVD are important to anticipate and recognize. A case of air lock and air embolus upon initiation of CPB caused by overpressurization of the venous catheter is described. A description of indications and potential complications of VAVD is presented.
