腋动脉插管联合股动脉插管在Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中的应用

目的:探讨腋动脉插管联合股动脉插管在Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中的应用。方法:对79例Stanford A型主动脉夹层患者经腋动脉插管联合股动脉插管建立体外循环进行手术。结果:2例(2.5%)在术中出现假腔灌注,1例在术中出现不可控出血,4例(5.0%)脑部并发症, 1例(1.3%)肺部感染,4例死亡,1例术后不清醒,1例偏瘫,3例出现插管位置皮肤延迟愈合、感染,2例(2.5%)肾功能不全,术后均未出现插管远端肢体缺血及神经损伤。全组体外循环时间188～321 min,平均(231±30.1)min,心肌阻断时间67～152 min,平均(95±21.1)min,全身停循环时间2～5 min,平均(3±0.8)min。结论:腋动脉插管联合股动脉插管能有效保证重要器官的灌注、减少插管并发症、缩短全身停循环时间,安全用于累及弓部的Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术。     

Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中主动脉假腔插管的应用

目的:探讨主动脉假腔插管在A型主动脉夹层(AADA)手术中的应用。方法:选自2015年6月到2018年5月,主动脉夹层患者通过主动脉假腔插管建立体外循环进行手术5例,其中4例为辅助股动脉插管灌注,1例为单独升主动脉假腔插管。所有手术均在深低温停循环(DHCA)同时行选择性顺行性脑灌注(ACP)。结果:5例手术均顺利完成,未发生夹层破裂及灌注不足。术后CTA示:升主动脉及主动脉弓部人工血管通畅,术中支架位置良好,无内漏。降主动脉真腔较术前明显扩大,未闭的降主动脉假腔血栓形成。术后2例出现一过性神经功能障碍,表现为术后突然发作的混乱、瞻望或躁动,持续5～10 s,很快缓解。病例3一周后症状完全消失,病例415 d后完全缓解。结论:AADA手术在准备充分并且适应证明确的条件下,经主动脉假腔插管是传统插管的一种有效的替代及补充方案。     

腔内隔绝术治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤107例分析

目的 探讨应用覆膜支架腔内隔绝术治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤的方法和效果.方法 对107例(男88例,女19例,年龄28～83岁)主动脉夹层动脉瘤腔内隔绝术患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.术前采用CT血管成像(computerized tomography angiography,CTA)、经胸心脏超声(transthoracic echocardiography,TTE)、磁共振血管成像(magnetic resonance aniography,MRA)等技术对主动脉夹层动脉瘤进行评估.术中穿刺左肱动脉行主动脉造影了解破口的位置及撕裂的范围,在数字减影血管造影(digital subtraction angiography,DSA)监视下经股动脉将覆膜支架送入胸降主动脉封闭夹层破口.结果 107例成功进行了主动脉夹层动脉瘤腔内隔绝术.术后主动脉造影证实夹层裂口完全封闭或内漏明显减少,无中转开胸手术.术后随访1～48个月,术后1个月3例死亡.104例行CTA复查,术后3个月,所有患者内膜破裂口封闭,胸降主动脉真腔扩大,假腔内血栓形成,支架位置、形态正常.术后6个月,1例再发生升主动脉夹层,置入一枚支架后后假腔消失.术后1年,主动脉均未见病变.结论 覆膜支架腔内隔绝术是治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤的安全、有效的方法,近期疗效好.手术死亡率和并发症发生率低,手术成功率和生存率高.     

主动脉根部替换手术93例

目的 :探讨主动脉根部替换手术的手术适应证、基本方法和手术技术。　　方法 :主动脉根部替换手术 93例 ,平均年龄 41.2岁 (2 3～ 6 9岁 )。对于主动脉夹层或累及主动脉弓的动脉瘤 ,选择右锁骨下动脉插管 ,行象鼻手术时加用股动脉插管。以复合带瓣人工血管行根部替换。 2例合并象鼻手术。　　结果 :93例主动脉根部替换手术平均心肌阻断时间 72 .5± 17.9分钟 (42～ 133分钟 ) ,平均体外循环时间 113.6±32 .7分钟 (6 0～ 2 32分钟 )。住院死亡 1例 (1.0 8% )。 8例手术未输血。　　结论 :精湛的手术技术和麻醉、体外循环等整体水平的提高是主动脉根部替换手术取得良好效果的关键。     

低温停循环选择性脑灌注应用于胸主动脉瘤的手术治疗

目的 :总结右锁骨下动脉插管、中度低温停循环 (HCA)、顺行选择性脑灌注 (ASCP)行胸主动脉瘤手术治疗的经验。方法 :11例患者中 ,男 10例 ,女 1例 ,夹层动脉瘤 10例 (慢性DeBakeyI型 5例 ,Ⅱ型 4例 ,急性Ⅱ加Ⅲ型 1例 ) ,升主动脉瘤加降主动脉缩窄 1例 ,均并发主动脉瓣中重度反流。术中采用右锁骨下动脉 右房插管 ,建立体外循环后并行降温至 30℃ ,阻断升主动脉 ,处理近端并继续降温至 2 3℃ ,阻断无名动脉 ,转为HCA加ASCP处理远端。 10例行Bentall术 ,1例行Bentall加升主动脉 降主动脉搭桥术。平均体外循环时间 (112 .3±37.9)min ,HCA加ASCP时间 (2 5 .4± 8.8)min。结果 :所有患者均于术后 4～ 6h清醒 ,无死亡及脑部并发症。结论 :以右锁骨下动脉插管建立体外循环、HCA加ASCP ,操作简便易行 ,可安全地延长停循环时限及有效防止脑部并发症 ,提高胸主动脉瘤的手术疗效     

双侧颈动脉前向灌注在急性A型主动脉夹层合并单侧颈总动脉闭塞外科治疗中的应用△

目的在急性Stanford A型(A型)主动脉夹层合并单侧颈动脉闭塞患者手术治疗中,通过改进传统手术、体外循环插管等方式,实施患者术中双侧颈动脉前向血流灌注、行闭塞侧颈动脉人工血管置换,以探索减少此类高危患者神经系统并发症的有效措施。方法本队列回顾性分析2017年9月至2019年2月,于广东省人民医院同期行主动脉夹层矫治以及颈动脉人工血管置换的5例急性A型主动脉夹层合并单侧颈动脉闭塞患者的临床资料。本组患者均行Bentall或Wheat合并主动脉弓部血管岛状吻合、术中降主动脉直接植入、患侧颈总动脉灌注及人工血管置换术(两例为右、三例为左侧颈总动脉闭塞),体外循环均行右腋动脉、股动脉、病变闭塞侧颈总动脉远端(近端颈总动脉结扎、远端颈总动脉与人工血管端-端吻合后直接与体外循环一分支动脉灌注)插管,后行患侧颈总动脉人工血管近端与升主动脉人工血管吻合完成主动脉-患侧颈总动脉血运重建;术中持续行双侧脑灌注,降主动脉支架植入过程暂停经股动脉血流灌注,待支架释放、固定后于人工支架内植入隔离球囊恢复全身循环。分析此5例A型主动脉夹层合并单侧颈动脉闭塞的患者基本资料及临床数据。结果 5例患者中4例为男性,年龄(52±12.4)岁,体质量(65.9±11.9)kg,发病至手术时间(9.6±7.1)d,体外循环时间(262.6±37.3)min,主动脉阻断时间(148.2±27.1)min,下半身停循环时间(19.2±10.2)min,术后呼吸机使用时间(82±56.1)h,术后重症监护病房停留时间(8.4±4.0)d,术后住院时间(不包括重症监护病房停留时间)(22.6±10.3)d;术后随访时间(17.6±7.4)个月。患者经计算机断层扫描复查显示血运重建良好,无神经系统及其他主要并发症发生。结论急性A型夹层合并单侧颈动脉闭塞患者外科治疗风险、神经系统并发症发生率高,经过早期针对闭塞颈总动脉行双侧脑灌注的体外循环和手术策略的改进,可以使神经系统并发症发生率降低,手术效果得到提高,是针对此类患者安全有效的外科干预策略。     

Perclose缝合器在A型主动脉夹层手术中的应用效果

【摘要】 目的 评估在Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中使用Perclose缝合器的应用效果。方法 2011年5月——2021年5月我院21例A型主动脉夹层动脉瘤患者行主动脉置换术时经股动脉插管建立体外循环,其中常规切开股动脉直视下插管11例;经皮穿刺股动脉插管并采用Abbott Perclose Proglide经皮血管缝合器修复股动脉10例。回顾分析两组患者的股动脉操作时间、下肢制动时间、术后ICU时间及发症发生率。结果 两组患者股动脉操作时间(5.15 ± 3.38 min vs 20.33 ± 10.67 min; P<0.01)和术后下肢制动时间(2.13 ± 1.28 h vs 8.23 ± 4.77) h; P<0.05)经皮穿刺组明显低于直视切开组,差异有统计学意义。对比手术相关并发症及ICU时间差异无统计学意义（10.0% vs 18.2%; P=0.13 ; 49.23 ± 10.35 h vs 50.33 ± 12.31 h; P=0.52）。结论 A型主动脉夹层手术时Perclose缝合器的使用可避免传统开放直视下股动脉插管并作股动脉缝合修补的缺陷,是一种容易、快速、安全、微创、有效的应用方式。     

急性Stanford B型主动脉夹层腔内修复治疗的疗效评价

目的:评价腔内修复术（TEVAR）治疗急性Stanford B型主动脉夹层的中、远期疗效。方法: 2001年12月～2009年6月,对急性Stanford B型主动脉夹层进行血管腔内支架植入治疗患者288（男237,女51）例,年龄21～79（平均51.2）岁。局部或全身麻醉,在 X线透视下将支架型人工血管经股动脉放置在主动脉夹层第1裂口位置,实现腔内修复。应用多排CT等技术进行38个月（6～102月）的随访,观察假腔血栓形成情况、有无内漏、血流动力学变化、移植物位置及形态、内脏动脉供血等情况,评估该方法的安全性及有效性。结果: 全组患者无移植物错放、移位、瘤体破裂、中转手术和截瘫等并发症。围术期死亡6例,分别为:腹腔脏器缺血/再灌注损伤2例、升主动脉逆行夹层1例、夹层破裂1例、心肌梗死1例及死亡原因不明1例。住院期间并发症发生率25.3%,包括术后即刻内漏、发热、肾功能不全、切口感染、肺炎、神经系统并发症、心功能不全、左肱动脉假性动脉瘤、截肢等。随访中共有7例死亡(2.4%),4例患者行二次TEVAR术后治愈。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示5年累积生存率达96%。结论: TEVAR术是治疗急性Stanford B型主动脉夹层的一种有效方法,中期疗效满意,患者远期生存状况良好。     

主动脉支架植入术治疗胸主动脉疾病的效果

目的:探讨胸主动脉疾病支架植入术治疗的适应证和疗效。方法: 对79例胸主动脉疾病行主动脉支架植入的疗效进行回顾性分析。79例患者中,Stanford A型主动脉夹层动脉瘤18例,Stanford B型主动脉夹层动脉瘤49例;主动脉瘤5例;外伤性胸主动脉破裂7例。术前采用CT血管造影(CTA)或磁共振血管造影(MRA)对主动脉进行评估。18例Stanford A型主动脉夹层动脉瘤患者行术中支架置入,其余61例患者在数字减影血管造影(DSA)下经股动脉或髂动脉行支架腔内隔绝术。结果: 内漏8例（10%）,4例于术后3月内自行闭合,1例再次腔内隔绝治疗,3例未进一步治疗;死亡8例（10%）均在术后1月内,其中3例死于神经系统并发症, 4例死于严重的合并症,1例死于主动脉瘤破裂。随访生存3年以上7例（9%）,2年以上14例（18%）,1年以上26例（33%）,1年以内24例(30%)。结论: 主动脉支架植入术可减少手术风险,降低病死率,广泛适用于各种胸主动脉疾病。     

用腔内隔绝术治疗B型主动脉夹层动脉瘤46例

目的评价用主动脉夹层动脉瘤腔内隔绝术治疗StanfordB型主动脉夹层动脉瘤的近、中期临床疗效。方法2002年5月至2006年9月,行主动脉腔内隔绝术治疗B型主动脉夹层46例。其中男36例,女10例;年龄62±18岁。46例均经股动脉切开置入覆膜支架封堵胸主动脉破裂口,置入后造影检查证实疗效,术后随访1~52个月,平均17±16个月,分析其临床特点及疗效。结果住院期间及随访30d内无患者死亡;发生主动脉腔内隔绝术后综合征11例;2例患者左锁骨下动脉被封闭;5例发生内漏,术后3个月时其中4例内漏自行封闭。随访3个月时,所有患者内膜破裂口封闭,胸降主动脉和腹主动脉真腔扩大,假腔内血栓形成,支架位置、形态正常。术后半年1例发生截瘫,原因不明。术后1年1例出现迟发性内漏;1例升主动脉发现夹层,未行外科手术。随访期间3例死亡,4年生存率89.3%。结论用主动脉夹层动脉瘤腔内隔绝术治疗B型主动脉夹层动脉瘤的近、中期疗效满意。     

Femoral artery cannulation in Stanford type A aortic dissection operations

The aim of this study was to evaluate femoral artery cannulation in Stanford type A aortic dissection operations. Between March 1994 and December 2001, 88 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection underwent surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and perfusion through the femoral artery; 31 of them had deep-hypothermic circulatory arrest. False lumen perfusion was detected in 8 patients (9.1%). There were 4 (4.5%) cerebral events: 2 patients had diffuse cerebral injury, with one death; and 2 patients had hemiplegia, with one death. Six patients (8.0%) had delayed incision healing, with local infection in one. There was no lower extremity ischemia associated with femoral artery cannulation. It was concluded that retrograde perfusion through the femoral artery was effective for repair of aortic dissection, with a low risk of those cerebral events associated with a high mortality rate.     

Right axillary artery cannulation for surgical management of the hostile ascending aorta

Extensive aortic disease, such as atherosclerosis with aneurysms or dissections that involve the ascending aorta, can complicate the choice of a cannulation site for cardiopulmonary bypass. To date, the standard peripheral arterial cannulation site has been the common femoral artery; however, this approach carries the risk of atheroembolism due to retrograde aortic perfusion, or it is undesirable because of severe iliofemoral disease. Arterial perfusion through the axillary artery provides sufficient antegrade aortic flow, is more likely to perfuse the true lumen in the event of dissection, and is associated with fewer atheroembolic complications. From September 2000 through March 2004, 27 patients underwent right axillary artery cannulation for acute ascending aortic dissection (n = 16), ascending aortic aneurysm (n = 9), or coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 2). Direct artery cannulation was performed in the first 4 patients, and the last 23 patients were cannulated through a longitudinal arteriotomy via an 8-mm woven Dacron graft. Seventeen patients underwent hypothermic circulatory arrest and antegrade cerebral perfusion. Two patients died intraoperatively: one due to low cardiac output and one due to diffuse bleeding. One patient suffered mild right-arm paresthesia postoperatively, but recovered completely. Axillary artery cannulation was successful in all patients; it provided sufficient arterial flow, and there were no intraoperative problems with perfusion. In the presence of extensive aortic or iliofemoral disease, arterial perfusion through the axillary artery is a safe and effective means of providing sufficient arterial inflow during cardiopulmonary bypass. In this regard, it is an excellent alternative to standard femoral artery cannulation.     

Retrograde aortic dissection during cardiopulmonary bypass

Femoral artery perfusion for cardiopulmonary bypass is still employed for reoperation, procedures involving the thoracic aorta, and partial bypass in critical patients. Retrograde aortic dissection is the most significant complication of femoral perfusion. The reported incidence is from 0.6% to 14% with a mortality of 66%. Most of the deaths occurred in patients in whom the dissection was not recognized, or in whom the dissection was recognized but not treated appropriately. Our experience with retrograde dissection totals six patients of 640 (0.9%) in whom femoral inflow was used. Four of the six patients survived the dissection. Sudden increase in extracorporeal line pressure shortly after beginning cardiopulmonary bypass associated with decreased venous return, dampened radial arterial pressure, and the abrupt appearance of a bluish, bulging ascending aorta establishes the diagnosis. Survival is enhanced if cardiopulmonary bypass is promptly discontinued, aortic cannulation established, and bypass reinstituted with the induction of profound hypothermia. Circulatory arrest may then be employed to repair the false passage. In this series the proposed operation was completed in all six patients.     

主动脉弓置换加"象鼻"支架手术治疗Stanford A型主动脉夹层

目的 探讨采用升主动脉及全弓置换加“象鼻”支架手术治疗StanfordA型主动脉夹层的临床意义。方法2010年5月至2011年10月,应用升主动脉及全弓置换加“象鼻”支架手术治疗StanfordA型主动脉夹层患者16例,男性12例,女性4例,平均年龄47（30-67）岁;其中急性主动脉夹层12例、慢性夹层4例,均在深低温停循环、低流量选择性脑灌注下手术。结果急诊手术12例,择期手术4例。行主动脉弓置换及“象鼻”支架术2例,升主动脉及全主动脉弓置换1例,升主动脉及全主动脉弓置换加“象鼻”支架手术13例,其中同期行Bentall术2例、主动脉根部成形术8例。心肌阻断时间59-137（104-31）min,选择性脑灌注时间17-57（29-11）min。术后肾功能衰竭2例,1例经血液透析治疗后肾功能恢复,另1例因多器官功能衰竭死亡。15例患者出院,随访1个月至1．5年,1例患者于术后约1个月双下肢肌肉坏死,在外院施行了截肢手术,8例患者不同程度恢复工作,无晚期死亡或再次手术病例。结论升主动脉及全弓置换加“象鼻”支架手术是治疗StanfordA型主动脉夹层安全、有效的方法。     

Direct versus side-graft cannulation of the right axillary artery for antegrade cerebral perfusion

Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion through the right axillary artery has proved to be a safe and effective method for cerebral protection in aortic surgery. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the techniques of direct right axillary artery cannulation (Group 1) and right axillary artery side-graft cannulation (Group 2), investigated cannulation-related complications, and determined the hemodynamic advantages and disadvantages of both cannulation techniques. Sixty-eight patients underwent surgery from April 2001 through August 2004 with the diagnoses of ascending and aortic arch aneurysms (10 patients), type A aortic dissection (56 patients), and aortic pseudoaneurysm (2 patients). There were 22 patients in Group 1 (33.4%) and 46 patients in Group 2 (67.6%). The antegrade selective cerebral perfusion flow was 500 to 700 mL/min in Group 1, whereas in Group 2 the flow was adjusted in accordance with the mean right radial arterial pressure, which was 50 mmHg. There was no significant difference between the groups in antegrade selective cerebral perfusion times, but the transient neurologic dysfunction rate (4 of 22 patients in Group 1 vs 1 of 42 in Group 2) was significantly lower in Group 2 (P =0.035). In Group 1, axillary artery dissection occurred in 2 patients (9%), and postoperative arm ischemia occurred in 1 patient (4.5%). These complications were not seen in Group 2 (P =0.031). The side-graft cannulation technique may be more acceptable because of its lower local-complication rate and because it provides pressure-controlled cerebral perfusion.     

Femoral arterial cannulation remains a safe and reliable option for aortic dissection repair

BackgroundThe optimal cannulation site for repair of type A aortic dissection remains controversial. The concern for Malperfusion syndrome has initiated a national trend away from femoral cannulation to axillary artery and direct ascending aortic cannulation. The purpose of this study was to report a single center experience with femoral artery cannulation for the repair of a type A dissection.MethodsA retrospective study was performed on 52 patients who underwent surgical repair for a type A dissection between January 1^st, 2012 and June 30^th, 2019 at a single institution. Of the 52 patients analyzed, 35 (67.3%) underwent femoral artery, 11 (21.2%) direct ascending aortic, and 6 (11%) axillary artery cannulation for arterial access. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in all the patients. Rates of postoperative complication and mortality were reported.ResultsThe mortality and bleeding rates for all the patients undergoing repair of the type A dissection repairs were 27% (14/52) and 19% (10/52), respectively. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established in 100% of the patients that had femoral arterial cannulation. There were no complications specifically related to femoral arterial cannulation nor the axillary or direct aortic approach. Specifically, there was no episodes of malperfusion syndrome, bleeding, or injury with femoral artery cannulation. Bleeding rates were higher in cases that proceeded with a femoral (13%) versus alternate (6%) approach however; neither of the bleeding was related to the cannulation site. None of the mortalities identified were directly attributable to the cannulation approach in each case.ConclusionsDespite the recent shift away from femoral cannulation, the results of the study show that femoral artery cannulation is safe and produces excellent results for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass. The concerns for malperfusion syndrome related to femoral cannulation were not seen.     

Aortic reoperations: experience with 23 patients using axillary artery cannulation

The increase in the number of cardiac operations has brought about an increase in aortic pathology that requires reoperation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate axillary artery cannulation in aortic reoperations. We operated on 23 patients diagnosed with acute type A aortic dissection (13 patients), chronic type A aortic dissection (7 patients), aortic pseudoaneursym (2 patients), and arcus aorta aneurysm (1 patient). The right axillary artery was cannulated directly or through a side graft which was anastomosed to the artery. Antegrade cerebral perfusion with moderate degree hypothermia was used for cerebral protection. Four patients were lost after the operation (17.4%) and no cerebral complications were encountered. Axillary artery cannulation provides safe reentry to the chest and provides good cerebral protection in aortic reoperations.     

Axillary artery cannulation with a Dacron graft for surgery of the aortic arch and ascending aorta

Cannulation of the axillary artery is one possible means of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. Use of a Dacron graft for cannulation has a number of advantages. In this article, we report our experience with this technique in seven consecutive patients in whom we performed an ascending aorta replacement. The associated procedures involved were aortic root reconstruction using David's procedure in two patients, the Bentall procedure in one, the hemi-arch technique in two, the complete arch and elephant trunk technique in one, aortic valve repair in one, and Valsalva sinus reconstruction in one. Circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion was carried out in three cases. There was no in-hospital mortality, and there were no vascular or infectious complications related to axillary access. One patient presented with transient paresthesia of the brachial plexus. In all cases, cardiopulmonary bypass flow was adequate.     

改良支架“象鼻”手术在B型夹层中的应用

目的:探讨改良支架"象鼻"手术在B型夹层中的应用。方法:纳入2019年1月至2019年9月,在北京安贞医院行改良支架"象鼻"手术的7例复杂型Stanford B型主动脉夹层患者,男性6例、女性1例,年龄29~50岁,平均(40.29±7.52)岁;所有患者均合并高血压,体质量60~110 kg,平均(91.43±17.73)kg,其中≥90 kg 5例。患者均在低温体外循环下,经主动脉弓切口置入支架型人工血管。术后出院前均复查主动脉CTA。结果:手术时间4.5~5.5 h,平均(4.86±0.38)h,体外循环时间129~163 min,平均(145±12.94)min,主动脉阻断时间32~59 min,平均(44.43±7.93)min,选择性脑灌注时间17~32 min,平均(24.29±4.50)min,脑灌注流量5~8 mL·min^-1·kg^-1,平均(6.71±1.38)mL·min^-1·kg^-1,深低温停循环鼻咽温23.5~26.8℃,平均(25.21±1.16)℃,深低温停循环左上肢血压20~31 mmHg,平均(25.58±4.65)mmHg,术中动脉插管位置:无名动脉人工血管+左锁骨下动脉人工血管插管4例,无名动脉人工血管+右股动脉+左锁骨下动脉人工血管插管3例,术后呼吸机辅助时间8~15 h,平均(10±2.65)h,监护室滞留时间1 d,术后住院时间6~8 d,平均(7.14±0.69)d,无手术死亡,支架周围假腔闭合率100%,股动脉切口延迟愈合1例,无吻合口漏,无神经系统并发症。结论:改良支架"象鼻"手术治疗复杂型Stanford B型主动脉夹层安全有效。     

Brachiocephalic Artery Cannulation in Proximal Aortic Surgery that Requires Circulatory Arrest

The brachiocephalic artery is an alternative cannulation site in the repair of ascending aortic lesions that require circulatory arrest. We evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this technique.Proximal aortic surgery was performed in 32 patients from 2006 through 2012 via brachiocephalic artery cannulation and circulatory arrest. Twenty-four (75%) of the patients were men. The mean age was 48.69 ± 9.43 years (range, 30–68 yr). Twelve had type I dissection, 2 had type II dissection, and 18 had true aneurysms of the ascending aorta. All operations were performed through a median sternotomy. The arterial cannula was inserted through an 8-mm vascular graft anastomosed to the brachiocephalic artery in an end-to-side fashion. In dissections, the distal anastomosis was performed without clamping the aorta. The patients were cooled to 24 °C, and circulatory arrest was established. The brachiocephalic and left carotid arteries were clamped, and antegrade cerebral perfusion was started at a rate of 10 mL/kg/min. Cardiopulmonary bypass was resumed after completion of the distal anastomosis and the initiation of rewarming. The proximal anastomosis was then performed.None of the patients sustained a major neurologic deficit, but 5 patients experienced transient postoperative agitation (<24 hr). There were 2 early deaths (6.25%), on the 3rd and the 11th postoperative days, both unrelated to the cannulation technique.Brachiocephalic artery cannulation through a graft can be a safe and effective technique in proximal aortic surgical procedures that require circulatory arrest.