DHCA
Pronunciation: D-H-C-A
Also written as: DHCA — Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest
Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, a technique using profound cooling to temporarily stop circulation during complex neonatal cardiac surgery.
Full Definition
Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is an advanced perfusion technique used in complex pediatric and neonatal cardiac surgery, particularly for procedures involving the aortic arch or requiring extensive intracardiac repairs. The technique involves cooling the patient's core temperature to 15-20°C (59-68°F), which dramatically reduces cellular metabolism and allows safe temporary cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass and circulation. This provides a bloodless operative field for delicate procedures such as arch reconstruction in hypoplastic left heart syndrome or complex intracardiac baffle construction. While DHCA enables operations that would otherwise be impossible, the technique carries risks of neurological injury, and safe arrest times are typically limited to 30-60 minutes depending on the patient's age and complexity of the procedure.
Usage
Usage note: Always document arrest time and temperature; distinguish from selective cerebral perfusion techniques.
In Context
- "The Norwood procedure was performed using DHCA for arch reconstruction." — Operative report
- "DHCA time was limited to 35 minutes to minimize neurological risk." — Perfusion note