Usage of external shunt in hybrid approach for aortic arch aneurysm to restore cerebral oxygenation

A hybrid approach, combining open and endovascular procedures, may be a less invasive substitute to correct aortic arch pathologies in high-risk patients. We describe an 82-year-old male patient with an atherosclerotic aortic arch aneurysm, which was treated with proximal transposition of all arch branches and endovascular aortic arch repair. During the left common carotid artery reconstruction, oxygen saturation level of the left cerebral hemisphere decreased lower than the safety limit. To re-establish brain perfusion, we installed an external shunt from the right common femoral artery to the left common carotid artery. The oxygen saturation was restored to an acceptably safe level, and the patient tolerated the procedure without any signs of postoperative ischemic stroke.