[Use of the Gott shunt in the prosthetic replacement of the aortic arch]

Our previous experience in 272 consecutive cases of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms resected without paraplegia by using the 9 mm Gott shunt encouraged us to apply the same technique to more complex aortic surgery. Graft replacement of the transverse aortic arch with brachio-cephalic vessel reattachment was undertaken in 2 patients without the aid of extracorporeal circulation and without systemic heparinisation. Body perfusion was achieved with two 9 mm Gott shunts inserted between the ascending aorta and both femoral arteries. A 10 mm graft interposition between the shunts and the femoral arteries allowed for retrograde perfusion and distal leg irrigation. Blood supply to the brain was maintained with the cut halves of a 7 mm Gott shunt connected as side branches to one of the 9 mm shunts, allowing cannulation of the innominate ant the left carotid arteries. In 90 of the 272 patients treated for a descending aortic aneurysm, a mean shunt flow of 2526 ml/min. was recorded through the 9 mm Gott shunt and from there, we took for granted that the total cardiac output, in there 2 patients, could be propelled by using 2 shunts. During aortic cross clamping, there were no change in the filling pressure of either the right heart or the left heart, and no metabolic acidosis was observed. Both patients survived with normal physiological function of all organs including the brain and the spinal cord.