Direct Versus Side Graft Cannulation From the Right Axillary Artery in Thoracic Aortic Surgery

The axillary artery can be cannulated for antegrade cerebral perfusion directly or by employing a prosthetic vascular graft anastomosed to the artery.

From 2008 until 2019, 688 patients underwent axillary artery cannulation. Of those, 287 underwent direct cannulation and 401 cannulation through a side graft. We identified risk factors for cannulation-related complications, and after propensity score matching, we compared the 2 matched cohorts' cannulation-related and postoperative outcomes.

A smaller axillary-artery diameter (odds ratio = 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.87) and emergency surgery (odds ratio = 2.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-3.92) were identified as risk factors for cannulation-associated complications. In the propensity score-matched cohorts (n = 266 in each), the number of patients experiencing cannulation-related complications was significantly higher in the direct cannulation group than in the side-graft group (n = 33 [12.4%] versus n = 15 [5.6%]; P = .01). The direct group's incidence of iatrogenic axillary artery dissection was significantly higher (n = 17 [6.4%] versus n = 4 [1.5%] P = .008); their incidence of postoperative stroke was also significantly higher (n = 39 [14.7%] versus n = 21 [7.9%]; P = .025). Patients cannulated with a side graft needed more transfusions of blood products (median [IQR]: 3.0 [1.0-6.0] versus 4.0 [2.0-7.0;] P = .009).

Cannulating the right axillary through a vascular prosthetic graft reduces cannulation-related complications such as iatrogenic axillary artery dissection and lowers stroke rates. To help prevent cannulation-related complications and stroke, we recommend the routine use of a side graft when cannulating the axillary artery.