Reoperative Total Arch Repair Using a Trifurcated Graft and Selective Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion

This study reviews the outcomes of our reoperative total arch repair technique using a trifurcated graft and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion.

Fifty patients underwent reoperative total arch repair from January 2005 to September 2020, with either a one-stage repair (n = 9) or two-stage repair (n = 41). The two-stage technique includes minimal dissection of the mediastinal structures, an arch-first technique using a trifurcated graft, and construction of a classical elephant trunk through a partial transverse incision distally in the old graft or in the aorta just distal to the old graft.

The median age was 63 years. Chronic dissection was the most frequent indication (88%), and 98% had undergone a previous proximal aortic repair at a median interval of 3 years. The median cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial ischemic, selective antegrade cerebral perfusion, and lower body circulatory arrest times were 226, 103, 97, and 98 minutes, respectively. The minimum nasopharyngeal and bladder temperature were 16.5°C and 20.0°C, respectively. Operative mortality was 2%, the incidence of stroke was 2%, and the incidence of spinal cord injury was 0%. Stage II repair was performed in 37 patients (open, 33 patients; endovascular, 4 patients), with 2 mortalities and no spinal cord injury. The median duration between stage I and II was 63 days. Survival and aortic event free rates at 3 years were 88.4% ± 4.9%, and 89.8% ± 5%, respectively.

We report a reoperative total arch repair technique that minimizes dissection of the cardiac structures, simplifies the distal anastomosis, and protects vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and spinal cord.