The water temperature is maintained 5 - 8 C higher than the temperature of the venous blood return. As in the cooling period, temperature gradients greater than 10 C are avoided, and the maximum temperature is maintained below 40 C at all times. Generally, the coronary and cerebral circulations are included into the circulation shortly after resuming bypass. At a rectal temperature of 32 C, arterial blood gases, electrolytes, hematocrit, calcium, and glucose are checked and corrected accordingly. When effective cardiac action resumes, usually during the time of calcium correction, venous return is retarded slightly to allow for some cardiac ejection.
Ventilation is resumed shortly thereafter.
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