title: Transatrial Cannulation of the Left Ventricle for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: A 5-Year Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening disorder with a high rate of mortality and complications. All cannulation techniques currently used to establish arterial flow for cardiopulmonary bypass are associated with a considerable risk of organ malperfusion, stroke, or access site trauma. Here, we report the impact of transatrial cannulation of the left ventricle on patient outcome after surgical treatment of AAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2010 and 2013, 46 patients underwent emergency surgery for AAD using transatrial cannulation of the left ventricle. Their outcome was retrospectively compared with that of 73 age- and sex-matched patients operated on for AAD between 2006 and 2010 before introduction of the new technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences concerning preoperative details were found. Arterial flow before 2010 was established after preparation of the femoral artery in 46 patients (63.0%) or by direct cannulation of the ascending aorta in 27 patients (37.0%). Operation times were significantly lower in the transatrial cannulation group (271.2 ± 75.4 versus 308.3 ± 78.2; p = 0.02). Postoperatively, we observed a significantly reduced stroke rate in the group with transatrial cannulation (6.5% versus 26.5%; p = 0.007) and a decreased rate of acute renal failure (20.0% versus 32.4%; p = 0.003). Intraoperative mortality (0% versus 6.8%; p = 0.16), 30-day mortality (8.9% versus 10.3%; p = 1.00), and mortality during follow-up (9.8% versus 34.4%; p = 0.08) did not differ. However, overall mortality was significantly lower in the group after transatrial cannulation (17.7% versus 45.2%; p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing surgery for AAD, transatrial cannulation of the left ventricle proved to be a safe and easy cannulation method that significantly reduced postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Azizolah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Barfeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: christina.grothusen@uksh.de.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grothusen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Assad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haneya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schöttler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Arne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Grischa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schoeneich
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome