The present invention relates to systems and methods for performing beating heart
surgery involving the step of maintaining at least partial blood flow through a
protected blood flow path within the right and/or left side of the heart during
surgery. The protected blood flow path may be established by positioning one or
more conduits within at least a portion of the right and/or left sides(s) of the
heart. In a first system, at least partial blood flow may be maintained through
the protected blood flow path by the pumping action of a blood pump communicatively
coupled to the conduit. In a second system, at least partial blood flow is maintained
through the protected blood flow path by the pumping action of the beating heart
itself. The systems are therefore capable of maintaining at least partial blood
flow through the right and/or left side(s) of the heart, even during periods when
the cardiac output becomes compromised. The patient's lung(s) may be used at all
times utilized for blood oxygenation during heart surgery, thereby avoiding the
need for artificial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits and the attendant disadvantages
of CPB.