[Clinical application of total body retrograde perfusion to aortic dissection operation]

Open distal anastomosis technique proposed by Cooley facilitates operative management of aortic dissection. Usually this procedure is performed under circulatory arrest, therefore, prolonged management is hazardous to cerebral and visceral organ systems. We have utilized profound hypothermia with total body retrograde perfusion: 1) myocardial protection through coronary sinus, 2) cerebral perfusion through superior vena cava with pretreatment of cerebral protective drugs, 3) abdominal visceral perfusion through inferior vena cava). We have obtained good results with this method in consecutive four patients with aortic dissection.