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Published on: March 28, 2025
Central Aortic Cannulation as a Primary Strategy in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery
Bongyeon Sohn1, Jae Hang Lee2, Heemoon Lee1
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14754, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Central aortic cannulation in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery significantly reduces operative time and early mortality compared to axillary cannulation. Long-term survival and complication rates remain comparable, establishing it as a safe primary strategy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Aortic Surgery
Background:
- Central aortic cannulation is an evolving strategy for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).
- Its efficacy compared to traditional axillary cannulation requires detailed evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical outcomes of central aortic cannulation versus axillary arterial cannulation in ATAAD surgery.
- To assess the safety and effectiveness of central cannulation as a primary strategy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 586 patients undergoing aortic repair for ATAAD (January 2005 - September 2024).
- Comparison of central cannulation versus axillary cannulation groups using propensity score matching (189 patients each).
Main Results:
- Central cannulation showed significantly shorter operative times (280.14 min vs 321.20 min) and lower early mortality (3.7% vs 9.5%).
- Major postoperative complications and neurological events were comparable between groups.
- No significant difference in long-term overall survival observed via Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Conclusions:
- Central cannulation offers reduced operative duration and early mortality in ATAAD surgery.
- It demonstrates comparable rates of neurological dysfunction and complications to axillary cannulation.
- Central cannulation is a safe and effective primary strategy for ATAAD repair.
Objectives:
The central cannulation technique was introduced at our institution in 2018 and has evolved into a primary cannulation strategy for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of central aortic cannulation with those of conventional axillary arterial cannulation.
Methods:
Between January 2005 and September 2024, 586 patients who underwent aortic repair for ATAAD were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent central cannulation were compared with those of the patients who underwent axillary cannulation. Propensity score matching was used to compare 189 patients in each group.
Results:
Central cannulation was associated with a significantly shorter total operative time (280.14 min vs 321.20 min, P < .001) and achieved significantly lower early mortality than the axillary cannulation group (3.7% vs 9.5%, P = .037), respectively. The rates of major postoperative complications, including cerebrovascular events and hospital course indicators, were comparable between groups. The mean follow-up duration was 42.77 months, and Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in long-term overall survival between the groups. The most frequently selected central cannulation site was the lesser curvature of the aortic arch, accounting for 43.4% of cases.
Conclusions:
Central cannulation significantly reduced operative duration compared with axillary cannulation. Early mortality was lower in the central cannulation group. The rates of significant neurological dysfunction and procedure-related complications were comparable with those associated with axillary cannulation. Central cannulation can be safely and effectively used as a primary cannulation strategy for ATAAD.
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