Short Communication
Mohamed SA Mohamed
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is the technique, where the functions of the heart and the lung are temporarily taken over by a machine during surgery, in order to maintain the circulation of blood and the oxygen supply to the body. Usually, CPB is used in open heart and coronary bypass surgeries, as it is difficult to operate on a beating heart. In addition, CPB can be used during other thoracic surgeries if the patient, while being operated, becomes hemodynamically instable, in association with hypoxia, progressive hypercarbia, and or persistent low pH (<7.2).