With the drainage cannula placed in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the infusion cannula positioned in the superior vena cava (SVC), right atrium (RA), or IVC, respectively, oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal were evaluated by measuring arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2). The lowest recirculation rate and highest SaO2 and PaO2 were observed when the infusion cannula was in the SVC. It was reported that SaO2 was above 80% with bypass flow rates exceeding 2 L/min in both the SVC and RA positions.
