Neurochemical markers during selective cerebral perfusion via the right brachial artery

Unilateral selective cerebral perfusion through right brachial artery is one of the cerebral protection methods for aortic arch repair. The purpose of this study is to determine whether cerebral perfusion through contra-lateral hemisphere is adequate or not. Seventeen consecutive patients underwent aortic arch repair using low flow antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ASCP) through right brachial artery under moderate hypothermia. We measured S100beta and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels, venous O(2) saturation, lactate, and glucose from both left and right jugular vein blood samples before, during and following ASCP and cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no operative mortality or neurological complication in these patients. No significant differences were observed in S100beta and NSE levels, venous saturation, glucose and lactate between the blood samples which were gathered from both jugular veins, statistically. This technique, as far as biochemical markers are concerned, seems to provide adequate perfusion for both right and left cerebral hemispheres.