Norwood procedure without circulatory arrest

In the Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart yndrome, the distal des cending thoracic aorta was cannulated just superior to the diaphragm throug h median sternotomy. In combination with cerebral perfusion through the gra ft anastomosed to the innominate artery, which was used as a systemic-to-pu lmonary shunt later, this technique enabled us to completely avoid circulat ory arrest and deep hypothermia throughout the operation. (C) 1999 by The S ociety of Thoracic Surgeons.