title: Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: how I do it.
abstract: There remains no consensus on the operative management of Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA). Our approach emphasizes operative expediency and simplicity (without circulatory assist techniques), avoiding anticoagulation and systemic hypothermia. The technique involves a fundamental clamp/sew method with specific adjuncts directed against the principle complications: epidural cooling (introduced in 1993) for spinal cord protection, regional renal hypothermia, and in-line mesenteric shunting to minimize visceral ischemia. In a cohort of over 200 TAA patients (50% Types I & II) treated during the past decade perioperative mortality has been 8% and paraparesis/paraplegia occured in 7%. These figures are halved for patients treated in elective circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Cambria
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods