Continuous cerebral perfusion for aortic arch repair: hypothermia versus normothermia

Deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest (CA) is routinely used for aortic arch repair. Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ASCP) has been proposed to avoid neurologic complications. The optimal temperature during aortic arch repair with ASCP is not well established. We therefore compared early outcomes of patients undergoing aortic arch repair associated with intracardiac repair with ASCP either with hypothermia (<28°C, group I; n=70) or normothermia (>34°C, group II; n=40).

From 2002 to 2008, 110 consecutive patients with interrupted aortic arch (n=40) or coarctation of the aorta (n=70) and cardiac anomalies underwent intracardiac and aortic arch repair without CA. Median age at repair was 12 days. Full cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), high hematocrit, and high rates of flow were used. ASCP flow was adjusted to maintain arterial pressure at greater than or equal to 50 mm Hg. ASCP was achieved either through a Gore-Tex (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD) graft to the innominate artery (n=36) or by direct cannulation (n=74). An electroencephalogram (EEG) was continuously monitored and 30 patients were monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Preoperative data were similar in both groups. Group II demonstrated higher ASCP flows (p<0.001). Time to extubation, stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and postoperative urine output and lactate levels were similar between groups. Mortality was 8.5% in group I versus 10% in group II. During the postoperative course, there were no clinical or electrical neurologic events in either group.

Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion can safely avoid CA. No worse, early, or long-term effects of ASCP with normothermia were found.