Complications associated with clamping the aorta between the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery

Hypothermic circulatory arrest using a left thoracotomy has recently been recommended for repair of distal arch lesions to prevent the atheroembolism that often results from clamp injury. The recommendation holds even for cases in which aortic cross-clamping between the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery is possible.

Over the last 16 years, 69 patients underwent repair of the distal arch or descending thoracic aorta using distal perfusion with the proximal aortic clamp placed between the left common carotid and left subclavian artery. The average age of the patients was 61+/-12 years; 18 of them (26%) were older than 70 years. Forty-four patients (64%) had atherosclerotic true aneurysms.

The surgical procedures used included patch closure of saccular aneurysms in 20 patients (29%) and graft replacement in 47 (71%). The left subclavian artery was reattached in 7 patients (10%). Although there were 3 hospital deaths (4%), no cerebral complications occurred aside from temporary neurologic dysfunction in 4 patients (6%).

An acceptably low incidence of cerebral complications is associated with cross-clamping the aorta between the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery.