title: Acute intraoperative aortic dissection following axillary artery cannulation.
abstract: We describe a 75-year-old woman who underwent right axillary artery cannulation in preparation for reconstruction of the aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta for athesosclerotic aortic aneurysm via a 'clamshell' incision. As soon as cardiopulmonary bypass was established, the ascending aorta and the aortic arch was dissected. The innominate artery was dissected including one-third of its circumferance anteriorly. Arterial perfusion was stopped immediately and the left femoral artery was cannulated to resume CPB. We proceeded with replacement of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and the proximal descending thoracic aorta with a Dacron branched aortic graft. The patient recovered uneventfully. Arterial blood pressure was equal bilaterally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Athens School of Medicine, Attikon Hospital, 1 Rimini St., Haidari 12462, Athens, Greece. ckrokkas@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chris K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rokkas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Angouras
authors.forename: Themistokles
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chamogeorgakis
authors.forename: Constantine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001366:Axillary Artery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates