Description and evaluation of a simplified technique for replacement of the ascending aorta and proximal arch in degenerative aneurysmal disease.

The distal extension of ascending aorta pathology often requires prosthetic grafting into the proximal arch. In order to perform optimal distal anastomosis, an open technique under a short period of circulatory arrest (CA) was adopted. For this purpose we evaluated prospectively a simplified technique for surgery and perfusion. The aneurysmal aorta was directly cannulated to cool down the patient to 26 degrees C. Under CA and retrograde cerebral perfusion, the diseased aorta and aortic cannulation site were resected. After completion of the distal anastomosis, antegrade rewarming was performed via recannulation of the AAo graft (side branch graft) whilst surgery was proceeded on the root and/or aortic valve. This technique clearly addresses the safety of cannulation into the aneurismal aorta. The issues of cerebral and visceral protection during CA and antegrade reperfusion and rewarming have been analysed prospectively in eight patients operated on over a period of 6 months. Our preliminary results indicate that this technique of arterial cannulation and CA at 26 degrees C for the management of degenerative AAo disease involving the proximal arch appears safe both in terms of cerebral and systemic (visceral, muscular) protection. By this way, the complications related to deep hypothermia and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass are avoided. This assumption may be only valid for a CA period less than 30 min. This preliminary study is limited by its small size and heterogeneity of the pathologies. However, the simplicity, surgical ease, rapidity and efficacy conveyed by this technique warrant further consideration and evaluation.