ASAIO transactions / American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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Cannulas used for extracorporeal circulating devices are made in many shapes and sizes. Side hole placement, length, and wall thickness can make the pressure-flow characteristics of catheters with similar French sizes quite different in their actual performance. ⋯ The M-numbers for commonly used catheters that are placed by extrathoracic dissections are determined. Clinical situations are presented that demonstrate applications of the M-number.