Aortic reoperations: experience with 23 patients using axillary artery cannulation

The increase in the number of cardiac operations has brought about an increase in aortic pathology that requires reoperation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate axillary artery cannulation in aortic reoperations. We operated on 23 patients diagnosed with acute type A aortic dissection (13 patients), chronic type A aortic dissection (7 patients), aortic pseudoaneursym (2 patients), and arcus aorta aneurysm (1 patient). The right axillary artery was cannulated directly or through a side graft which was anastomosed to the artery. Antegrade cerebral perfusion with moderate degree hypothermia was used for cerebral protection. Four patients were lost after the operation (17.4%) and no cerebral complications were encountered. Axillary artery cannulation provides safe reentry to the chest and provides good cerebral protection in aortic reoperations.