Combining Two Devices to Create a New Application: The Paracorporeal Lung Assist as a Bridge to Lung Transplant in an Infant

Introduction Oxygenators are well known for their application in extracorporeal circulation. Berlin Heart silicone cannulae were specifically designed for use with ventricular assist devices. We describe a novel combination of these two devices for creation of a pumpless, paracorporeal system for bridging an infant to lung transplantation. Case Description A four-month-old baby, born at 36 weeks of gestation with refractory respiratory failure with components of both parenchymal lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, was referred from an outside institution. He had previously undergone ductal stenting at …