“…Extrathoracic cannulation for partial cardiopulmonary bypass was described in the late 1960's as a safe method for the stabilization of critically ill cardiac surgery patients during the induction of general anesthesia. [11][12][13] This technique generally involved the cutdown and cannulation of the femoral artery and vein under local anesthesia. In the 1970's, Bartlett et al 14 described a technique of extrathoracic cannulation for venoarterial bypass to support gas exchange in newborn infants with severe respiratory failure.…”