title: Central cannulation through a standard left thoracotomy for surgery on the descending thoracic aorta.
abstract: Surgery on the descending thoracic aorta is often performed with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass established via the femoral vessels. This, however, produces retrograde flow, which may potentially dislodge atheromatous debris from a diseased descending aorta or results in malperfusion due to cannulation of the false lumen in patients with descending aortic dissection. In view of this, we have described a technique of central cannulation of the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery, established via a standard left thoracotomy, providing antegrade flow and limiting the cerebral ischemic time.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Kuo
authors: Narain
authors: N
authors: Moorjani
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Unsworth-White