Cannulation of the right axillary artery for surgery of acute type A aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
The optimal choice of the arterial inflow site during operations for type A aortic dissection is not clearly defined. The aim of the prospective study was to identify whether cannulation of the right axillary artery instead of the femoral artery may improve the results of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.


METHODS
Seventy consecutive patients were operated on because of acute type A aortic dissection from January 2000 to February 2002. The only difference in surgical strategy was the site of arterial cannulation: the right axillary artery was used in 20 patients [axillary group] and the left femoral artery in 50 patients [femoral group]. All patients had aortic surgery with open distal anastomosis during deep hypothermic arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion. The mean age was 58.7 +/- 12 years with a range from 28 to 88 years (axillary group, 56.6 +/- 13 years; femoral group, 59.4 +/- 12 years; P = 0.435). Preoperatively evident organ malperfusion was identified in five (25%) patients of the axillary group and in seven (14%) of the femoral group.


RESULTS
There was no perioperative death. The hospital mortality rate was 5.0% for the axillary group and 22% for the femoral group (all patients, 17%). Major neurological complications occurred postoperatively in 5% of patients from the axillary group (one out of 20 patients) and in 8% of patients from the femoral group (four out of 50 patients) (all patients, 7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Cannulation of the right axillary artery improved the outcome of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. However, postoperative complications occurred after both axillary and femoral artery cannulation.
Pasic
Miralem
M
Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. pasic@dhzb.de
Schubel
Jens
J
Bauer
Matthias
M
Yankah
Charles
C
Kuppe
Hermann
H
Weng
Yu-Guo
YG
Hetzer
Roland
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D001366:Axillary Artery; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome