A few weeks ago, we discussed REBOA, a cutting edge procedure to control hemorrhage. Let's go beyond cutting edge to the future of trauma and medical arrest care using a similar aortic catheter. This one allows you to administer blood and drugs to the proximal aorta.
Jim Manning, MD has been working on these issues for over two decades in his lab in North Carolina. This may very well be the future of CPR for medical and traumatic arrests.
Here are Dr. Manning's Disclosures: Inventor on patents for the Selective Aortic Arch Perfusion technology that are assigned to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Co-Founder of Resusitech, Inc., a medical device company developing invasive resuscitation technologies.
Selective Aortic Arch Perfusion

The following slide shows where SAAP may fit in with the other therapies for cardiac arrest:
And this one shows a possible progression during arrest:
Update: Want More?
Jim gave a lecture for GSA HEMS that is fantastic!
What do you think? Comment Below.
Additional New Information
More on EMCrit
EMCrit 170 – the ER REBOA Catheter with Joe DuBose(Opens in a new browser tab)
Additional Resources
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- EMCrit 394 – CV-EMCrit – Inotrope Basics Part 2 – Specific Scenarios - February 7, 2025
- EMCrit RACC-Lit – January 2025 - February 4, 2025
- EMCrit 393 – CV-EMCrit – Inotrope Basics Part 1 - January 25, 2025
So when doing SAAP is the blood given through the catheter oxygenated? If so, how?
Yes! A good question and an important point to make clear. The blood (or other oxygen carrier) needs to be oxygenated prior to infusion via the SAAP catheter. SAAP involves infusion directly into the arterial system (aortic arch), so the lungs cannot be used to oxygenate the perfusate before it reaches the heart and brain. We have accomplished this in the laboratory using various oxygenators that are used for cardiopulmonary bypass or ECMO. Such oxygenators are now small enough that they are readily portable. Thanks! Jim
Hello Scott-
I was curious as to how blood continuing the circuit from the periphery is cycled through the body if the aorta is essentially cross-clamped (endovascularly speaking). How is venous blood pooling prevented when continuous transfusion is applied? Thanks!
Nick,
purpose of this is purely short term to perfuse heart and brain. Don’t need to worry about rest of body for this period of time. I think it was mentioned on the podcast that after a few units of blood, goal is to place venous drainage line. If the patient gets, ROSC, I would imagine dropping the balloon on the SAAP to allow partial VA ECMO while you are transitioning to art cannula.