Cardiac venting involves placing a vent in the heart during cardiac arrest to prevent distension of the ventricles since they cannot eject blood during this period. Blood can return to the heart from abnormal sources like a patent ductus arteriosus or VSD. Common sites for vent placement include the pulmonary artery, right superior pulmonary vein, and left ventricle. The purposes of venting are to provide a bloodless field, avoid chamber distension, reduce myocardial rewarming, and prevent ejection of air from the heart. Monitoring of left ventricular distension can be done via inspection, palpation, a PA catheter, or left atrial monitoring line. Complications can include aneurysm, stenosis, or air

1. Cardiac Venting

2. -The ventricles are unable to eject the blood during the period of
arrest, so the vent must be placed to protect the from distension.
-The left side of the heart receives blood from the bronchial
arteries and the thebesian veins.
-The right side of the heart receives blood from the coronary
sinus and leakage around the venous cannula.

3. Abnormal Sources :
On occasions, blood can return from abnormal sources include;
-Left sided SVC.
-Patent Ductus Arteriosus.
-ASD/VSD.
-Aortic regurgitation.
-Systemic to Pulmonary Shunt.

4. Sites Of Cardiac Venting :
-Pulmonary Artery.
-Right Superior Pulmonary Vein.
-Left Ventricle.
-Aortic Root.

6. Purpose Of Venting The Heart:
-Aid visualization and provide bloodless field.
-Avoid chamber distension.
-Reduce Myocardial Rewarming.
-Prevent cardiac ejection of air.
The use of left atrial pressure monitoring line and pulmonary artery
catheter can help moderate left ventricle distension.

7. Venting Methods :
Venting can be achieved by;
-The aortic root cardioplegia cannula:This method does not allow venting during
cardioplegia administration.
-The right superior pulmonary vein:A vent is passed into the left atrium and
through the mitral valve into pulmonary vein.
-Left Ventricle :Through the left ventricular apex.
-The pulmonary artery :This may not be effective at venting the LV. When there is
aortic regurgitation with a competent mitral valve.

8. Monitoring Of LV distension :
-Inspection & Palpation of heart.
-PA catheter.
-Left atrial monitoring line.

9. Complications :
-Aneurysm of LV apex.
-Stenosis of pulmonary vein or pulmonary artery.
-Major complications of cardiac venting is air
embolism.