BioGlue cerebral embolism following acute type A aortic dissection repair

Surgical outcomes of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) have significantly improved in recent decades due to advances in surgical techniques and adhesives such as BioGlue (Cryolife, Kennesaw, GA, USA). However, this convenient material can sometimes cause complications such as thrombotic embolism and pseudoaneurysm. Herein, we present the case of a 61-year-old man with ATAAD who successfully underwent total arch replacement. Five days after surgery, he collapsed due to right-sided hemiplegia. We immediately performed cerebral thrombectomy to remove thrombotic embolism caused by BioGlue, which was used to obliterate the false lumen of the dissected aorta during ATAAD repair.

Thanks to surgical techniques and adhesives such as BioGlue, surgical outcomes of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection have significantly improved recently. However, thromboembolic events due to adhesives such as BioGlue use can happen not only during surgery, but also a few days after it.