Retrograde cerebral perfusion: clinical experience in emergency and elective aortic operations

We recently have used retrograde cerebral perfusion via the superior vena cava in association with hypothermic circulatory arrest as an adjunct to cerebral protection during aortic arch operations. Between April 1993 and March 1994, 23 patients (14 male; 9 female; median age, 64 years; age range, 25 to 76 years; 14 emergency, 9 elective) underwent operation on the ascending aorta, aortic arch, or both for acute dissection (11) or aneurysm (12). Aortic root replacement was performed in 13 patients (7 with arch replacement), ascending aortic replacement in 7 (4 with arch replacement), isolated aortic arch replacement in 2, and repair of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in 1. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 4 patients. Hypothermic circulatory arrest (15 degrees C) and retrograde cerebral perfusion were implemented in all cases (median circulatory arrest time, 21 minutes; range, 13 to 51 minutes; median retrograde cerebral perfusion time, 20 minutes; range, 12 to 50 minutes). Three hospital deaths occurred (atheromatous embolic stroke, sepsis, rupture of infrarenal aortic aneurysm). The remaining patients had no neurologic damage (median intensive therapy unit stay, 1 day; range, 1 to 5 days). Retrograde cerebral perfusion is easy to establish and safe, and may improve brain protection during hypothermic circulatory arrest.