title: Direct Axillary Arterial Cannulation Using Seldinger's Technique in Aortic Dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The axillary artery is frequently used for cardiopulmonary bypass, especially in acute aortic dissection. We have cannulated the axillary artery using a side graft or by directly using Seldinger's technique. The purpose of this study was to assess the technical problems and complications of both cannulation techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2003 to December 2009, 53 patients underwent operations using the axillary artery for arterial cannulation. The axillary artery was cannulated with a side graft in 35 patients (side graft group) and directly using Seldinger's technique in 18 patients (direct group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were compared between two groups, focusing on cannulation-related morbidities including neurologic morbidity. Arterial damage or dissection of the axillary artery occurred in 1 (2.9%) patient in the side graft group and in 1 (5.6%) patient in the direct group. Malperfusion and insufficient flow did not occur in either group. There were no postoperative complications related to axillary cannulation, such as brachial plexus injury, compartment syndrome, or local wound infection, in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Technical problems and complications of the axillary arterial cannulation in both techniques were rare. Direct arterial cannulation using Seldinger's technique was done safely and more simply than the previous technique. It was concluded that both axillary arterial cannulation techniques are acceptable and it remains the surgeon's preference which technique should be used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook University Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Gun-Jik
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Il
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joon-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong-Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee