Subintimal retrograde perfusion during repair of aortic dissection: a potential cause of disaster.
During operations done for dissection of the proximal aorta, a selective retrograde perfusion of the false lumen may occur in spite of correct placement of the cannula in the femoral artery. This happens through a re-entry orifice at the level of the descending thoracic aorta and may seriously compromise the cerebral and coronary circulation. This paper describes this observation in a patient successfully treated and discusses the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially catastrophic complication.
Robicsek
F
F
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Carolinas Heart Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Zimmern
S H
SH
Howe
H R
HR
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow