Tips for successful outcomes for descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm procedures.

The continuing evolution of endovascular approaches to the repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms necessitates careful evaluation of the safety and efficacy of these alternative therapies as they compare to the "gold standard" of open surgical repair. The purpose of this report is to present our approach to conventional open surgical repair of these aneurysms. Routine surgical modalities include use of moderate systemic heparinization, mild permissive hypothermia, and sequential aortic clamping.

Use of cardiopulmonary bypass for tracheal resection: a case report.

Although ventilatory support can be life-saving, it also has adverse effects, including postintubation tracheal stenosis caused by damage to the larynx and trachea. Cardiopulmonary bypass is generally not used for the surgical management of tracheal stenosis; however, we have found that the use of cardiopulmonary bypass can be advantageous during tracheal resection and reconstruction.