Flow benefits of pediatric arterial cannulae versus introducer sheaths as distal perfusion catheters in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

The 10-Fr peds art cannula was the most beneficial DPC tested. All peds art cannulae tested possessed a better tradeoff of flow delivery versus intravascular obstructiveness compared to introducer sheaths, resulting in more favorable distal limb hemodynamics. The integrated stopcock with small holes (0.061'' = 4.65 Fr) on the introducer sheath's sidearm and at the 90° sidearm's attachment to the sheath's hub increase resistance. These chokepoints of introducer sheaths prevent sufficient flow to support distal limb perfusion as DPC.