Open Heart Surgery under Hypothermia

Fourty-three operations were performed on a total of 41 patients consisting of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot, aortic valve stenosis, pulmonary valve stenosis and coarctation of the aorta under hypothermia using intrathoracic rewarming. All patients but 2 cases with tetralogy Fallot have been completely cured. From these experiences the safe time limit for cardiac occlusion is believed to be about 15 minutes, and operation such as ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis can be performed under hypothermia.