Direct cannulation of the common carotid artery during the ascending aortic or aortic arch replacement

To evaluate cerebral perfusion using direct cannulation into the common carotid artery. A new technique is needed to protect brain ischemic injury during ascending aortic or aortic arch replacement.

This technique was evaluated for patients who would have difficulty maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion during surgery. The procedure was performed when patients had the following diagnoses: pseudoaneurysm formation in contact with the sternum with the risk of aneurysmal rupture (n = 5), acute aortic dissection with compression of the true lumen of the innominate artery by the pseudolumen (n = 3), or a large volume of thrombus in the lumen of the aneurysm with the risk of cerebral thromboembolism if standard extracorporeal circulation was used (n = 2). The perfusion catheter was cannulated into one side of the common carotid artery (right side: n = 6, left side: n = 4) and mean perfusion flow rate was found to be 175 mL/min. The operative procedures consisted of ascending aortic and aortic arch replacement with coronary artery bypass grafting in six patients, ascending aortic replacement in 2 patients, and innominate artery reconstruction/innominate artery and right subclavian artery reconstruction in one patient.

No cerebral accidents or deaths occurred while patients were hospitalized. We have followed up patients for a mean of 2.1 years (maximum 3.6 years), with no complications noted from the surgical procedure.

Direct cannulation of the common carotid artery is a simple, safe, and acceptable cerebral protection for patients undergoing aortic or aortic arch replacement procedures in the patients with these specific conditions.