A Technique for Safe Redo Sternotomy in Patients with Aortic Proximity to the Sternum

The risk of redo sternotomy is greatly elevated in the setting of aortic proximity to the sternum. Current strategies to avoid catastrophic neurologic injury upon sternal reentry include establishment of peripheral bypass with the use of deep hypothermia and low-flow bypass, both of which may increase risk of neurologic complications. Here, we describe a technique for safe sternal reentry and illustrate its successful use in a patient with close proximity of the aorta to the sternum. With this technique, peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass is established prior to sternal reentry via cannulation of the right axillary artery and femoral vein, and the patient is cooled as the innominate artery is dissected, mobilized, and controlled. This permits the rapid institution of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) in the event of aortic injury during sternal reentry. Once the innominate artery is isolated and SACP is initiated, one can safely complete the redo sternotomy, dissection, and distal ascending aortic cross-clamping to continue the operation without interruption in cerebral blood flow. This technique offers a safe approach in select patients and should be utilized in similar high-risk cases.

Total Aortic Arch Replacement: Case Report of the first successful total arch replacement in Nepal and Review of contemporary techniques in arch surgery

Aortic arch replacement is formidable cardiac surgery that is fraught with complications like brain injury, coagulopathy along with high mortality. Over the past several years, various techniques like deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, retrograde cerebral perfusion, and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion along with branched graft techniques have been developed with better early outcomes. We share our experience of successful replacement of ascending and total aortic arch in a 60 years old female, who presented with ascending and aortic arch aneurysm.

Early outcome and mid-term survival after open arch repair using selective antegrade cerebral perfusion

Objectives The introduction of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion technique as method of cerebral protection improved the outcome of open arch surgery. The aim of this study was to report early outcomes using this technique. Methods Between 1997 and 2017, data were collected retrospectively for all patients who underwent surgical replacement of the aortic arch using selective antegrade cerebral perfusion ( n = 938). To confirm the effectiveness of this cerebral protection method, early outcome and results were evaluated. Results The incidence of postoperative permanent neurological dysfunction was 6.4%. Overall hospital mortality was 11.9% ( n = 112). On multivariable analysis, age >75 years, female gender, euroscore at increment of 1 point, chronic renal failure, extension of thoracic aorta replacement and CPB time emerged as independent risk factors for hospital mortality. The mid-term survival at 1, 5, 10 and 15 years was 92%, 78%, 60% and 49%, respectively. The competing risk analysis for permanent neurological dysfunction and aortic reoperations was performed excluding the patients who died during the hospital stay. The cumulative incidence of permanent neurological dysfunction and aortic reoperations was 2% at 3 years, 3% at 5 years, 6% at 10 years, 12% at 3 years, 15% at 5 years and 19% at 10 years, respectively. Conclusions From the early 90s to the present day, the selective antegrade cerebral perfusion has confirmed to be a useful and “safe” method of brain protection in aortic arch surgery in terms of postoperative neurological complications.

Assessment of children`s psychomotor development in the remote period after aortic arch reconstruction with antegrade cerebral perfusion

Objective. To evaluate the psychomotor development of children after aortic arch reconstruction in the conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Materials and methods. The results of surgical treatment and psychomotor development of 48 children aged 1 to 3 years, who underwent reconstruction of the aortic arch in terms of artificial circulation and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion at the age of 1 year at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery and the Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in the period from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed. To study the cognitive sphere and motor development of children we used the 2nd edition of the method "Bayley Scales of Infant Development - II". In analyzing the results in children with psychomotor developmental delay, the values of the mental index and the index of psychomotor development were taken into account. Results. 2 (3.7%) patients died after surgery. Postoperative mortality was connected with neurological complications and technique of cerebral perfusion. In the remote period no patient died. According to neurosonography in the postoperative period, no pathological structural changes in the brain were detected. In 16 (33.3%) children at the age of 1 year there was a slight delay in mental and / or psychomotor development. Evaluation of the results of the survey in the dynamics showed that at the age of 3 years, 9 (18.7%) children had a slight development delay. The average values of the mental index in 1 year were 81.2 ± 8.6, and in 3 years - 96.4 ± 12.7 (p <0.05), and the index of psychomotor development - respectively 83.3 ± 11.4 and 94.5 ± 10.2 (p <0.05). The difference between the indicators of mental and psychomotor indices in children with congenital heart disease at 1 year and 3 years is statistically significant. Conclusions. A delay in psychomotor development at the age of 1 year was revealed in 33.3% of children after the aortic arch reconstruction in the conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. This indicates the need for further research and monitoring. A statistically significant difference between the indicators of mental and psychomotor development of children aged 1 and 3 years after aortic arch reconstruction indicates a positive dynamics and recovery of psychomotor development with age in most of children.

Application of moderate hypothermia while performance of the aortal arch reconstruction in new-born babies in conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion

Objective. To estimate a security of application of moderate hypothermia while performing the aortal arch reconstruction in new-born babies in conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Materials and methods. In 2010-2019 yrs period in Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery and Scientific-Practical Medical Centre of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardio-Surgery in 64 new-born babies the aortal arch reconstruction was performed in conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion in moderate hypothermia. In the investigation only patients with a two-ventricle physiology, in whom further two-ventricular correction was conducted, were included. There were 48 (75%) boys and 16 (25%) girls. Median age of the patients was (1.6 ± 0.8) mo, median body mass - (3.8 ± 1.1) kg, median square of the body surface - (0.24 ± 0.04) m². Echocardiographic investigation and neurosonography were the main diagnostic procedures. Results. Hospital mortality have constituted 4.7% (3 patients died). The death cases were not connected with the brain protection procedure. Duration of artificial blood circulation period have had constituted (138.4 ± 58.8) min at average, aortal clamping - (83.1 ± 40 min), selective antegrade cerebral perfusion - (24.4 ± 8.8) min. In 10 (15,6%) patients in early postoperative period the sternum persisted open. In 4 (6.2%) patients in early postoperative period convulsions were noted, which were treated successfully medicinally. Median stay in the Department of Reanimation and Intensive Therapy have constituted (7.1 ± 4.1) days. In late follow-up period the patients were seen from 1 mo till 8.5 yrs. No one patient died. While elective neurosonography conduction the brain pathological changes were absent. The neurological complications symptoms were absent as well. Conclusion. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion with moderate hypothermia constitutes effective and secure method of the brain protection while performance of the aortal arch reconstruction in new-born babies, using median surgical approach in conditions of artificial blood circulation.

Different hypothermic and cerebral perfusion strategies in extended arch replacement for acute type a aortic dissection: a retrospective comparative study

Background The optimal hypothermic level in total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation for acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD) has not been established, and the superiority of unilateral or bilateral cerebral perfusion remains a controversial issue. Therefore, we evaluated the application of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) with a core temperature of 29 °C and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion in aTAAD treated by total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation. Methods From July 2019 to January 2020, 25 aTAAD patients underwent total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation via MHCA (29 °C) and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (modified group). Thirty-six patients treated by the same procedure with MHCA (25 °C) and unilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion during this period were selected as controls. Results There were no differences between the two groups of patients in terms of age, sex, incidence of hypertension, malperfusion, and pericardial effusion, although the incidence of cardiac tamponade was higher in the modified group (control 2.8%, modified 20%; P = 0.038). The lowest mean circulatory arrest temperature was 24.6 ± 0.9 °C in the control group, and 29 ± 0.8 °C in the modified group (P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was 4.9% (3/61) for the entire cohort (control 8.3%, modified 0; P = 0.262). The incidence of permanent neurologic deficit was 4.9% (control 8.3%, modified 0; P = 0.262). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of temporary neurological deficit, renal failure, and paraplegia between groups. The rate of major adverse events in the modified group was lower (30.6% vs. 4%, P = 0.019). A shorter duration of ventilation and ICU stay was identified in the modified group, as well as a reduced volume of drainage within the first 48 h and red blood cell transfusion. Conclusions The early results of MHCA (29 °C) and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion applied in total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation for aTAAD were acceptable, providing similar inferior cerebral and visceral protection compared with that of the conventional strategy. A higher core temperature may account for the shorter duration of ventilation and ICU stay, as well as a reduced volume of drainage and red blood cell transfusion.

Different hypothermic and cerebral perfusion strategies in extended arch replacement for acute type A aortic dissection: a retrospective comparative study

Background: The optimal hypothermic level in total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation for acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD) has not been established, and the superiority of unilateral or bilateral cerebral perfusion remains a controversial issue. Therefore, we evaluated the application of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) with a core temperature of 29℃ and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion in aTAAD treated by total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation. Methods: From July 2019 to January 2020, 25 aTAAD patients underwent total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation via MHCA (29℃) and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (modified group). Thirty-six patients treated by the same procedure with MHCA (25℃) and unilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion during this period were selected as controls. Results: There were no differences between the two groups of patients in terms of age, sex, incidence of hypertension, malperfusion, and pericardial effusion, although the incidence of cardiac tamponade was higher in the modified group (control 2.8%, modified 20%; P = 0.038). The lowest mean circulatory arrest temperature was 24.6±0.9℃ in the control group, and 29±0.8℃ in the modified group (P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was 4.9% (3/61) for the entire cohort (control 8.3%, modified 0; P = 0.262). The incidence of permanent neurologic deficit was 4.9% (control 8.3%, modified 0; P = 0.262). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of temporary neurological deficit, renal failure, and paraplegia between groups. The rate of major adverse events in the modified group was lower (30.6% vs. 4%, P = 0.019). A shorter duration of ventilation and ICU stay was identified in the modified group, as well as a reduced volume of drainage within the first 48 h and red blood cell transfusion.Conclusions: The early results of MHCA (29℃) and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion applied in total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation for aTAAD were acceptable, providing similar inferior cerebral and visceral protection compared with that of the conventional strategy. A higher core temperature may account for the shorter duration of ventilation and ICU stay, as well as a reduced volume of drainage and red blood cell transfusion.