RETROGRADE CEREBRAL PERFUSION THROUGH ANTERO-AXILLARY THORACOTOMY IN THE AORTIC-ARCH SURGERY

Objective: We have recently found that left antero-axillary thoracotom y provides an ideal view of aortic arch and makes the direct cannulati on to superior vena cava possible for retrograde cerebral perfusion du ring circulatory arrest. Method: Twelve patients with distal aortic ar ch aneurysm or aortic dissection underwent the repair of aortic arch t hrough this approach. Mean duration of retrograde cerebral perfusion w as 41 min. Results: Two hospital deaths occurred due to respiratory fa ilure and stroke. The remaining patients survived without any neurolog ical deficits. Conclusion: Antero-axillary thoracotomy may be an ideal approach which combines the advantages of median sternotomy and poste ro-lateral thoracotomy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.