Disclosed herein is a bidirectional intravascular cannula, or catheter, that is configured to provide and return blood in a patient bidirectionally. The bidirectional intravascular cannula is configured to reduce or obviate the need for a second cannula, such as currently available unidirectional cannulae, to be placed in a second or opposite direction of flow. Users would include cardiac surgeons, intensivists, vascular surgeons, ER doctors, IR doctors and cardiologist who use peripheral cannulation for ECLS or cardiopulmonary bypass. The cannula allows continued flow to a patient's limb even with the cannula proximally in the vessel. The cannula further allows larger size cannula to be placed without the need for additional distal catheter placement.
