Right axillary cannulation in the left thoracotomy for thoracic aortic aneurysm

Perfusion from the femoral artery is commonly used in the open proximal met hod of performing distal aortic arch aneurysm repair or Stanford type B aor tic dissection repair under circulatory arrest through left thoracotomy. Ho wever, it is associated with a significant risk of retrograde emboli or mal perfusion, and with other problems including a restricted time of circulato ry arrest to the brain and difficulties in de-airing from the arch branches and proximal ascending aorta. To overcome these problems, we developed a m ethod of performing right axillary perfusion through left thoracotomy. (Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:311-3) (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.