Total cavopulmonary connection: open anastomosis of an extracardiac conduit with vacuum-assisted venous drainage.

Insertion of a tube conduit for total cavopulmonary connection is sometimes technically demanding due to the crumpled stump of the inferior vena cava caused by a tourniquet of the inferior vena cava near the division line. Herein we describe an alternative in which the anastomosis is completed during removal of the tourniquet with the application of vacuum-assisted venous drainage. This new technique may alleviate, if not completely eliminate, a concern associated with total cavopulmonary connection with extracardiac conduit in small patients.