Integrated cerebral perfusion for hypothermic circulatory arrest during transverse aortic arch repairs

Objectives: Antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) during hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) for ascending/transverse arch repair is used for cerebral protection. This study evaluates ACP in combination with retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) during extended HCA and compares it to RCP-only. Methods: Between January 2005 and April 2007, we performed 64 consecutive arch repairs requiring extended HCA (>40 min). RCP-only was used with 34 patients and ACP with brief RCP ('integrated') was used with 30 patients. Mean HCA time was 51 ± 13 min. Mean RCP-only time was 47 ± 9.6 min; in the integrated group, mean ACP time was 42 ± 14.4 min with an added RCP time of 10.8 ± 7.6 min. For the entire cohort, 95% (61/64) underwent total arch repair, and 67% (43/64) had elephant trunk reconstruction. Variables predictive of mortality and neurological outcomes were analysed prospectively, but technique selection was non-randomised. Results: Preoperative and operative variables did not differ between the RCP-only and the integrated groups except for aortic valve replacement, which was more frequently performed in the integrated group (33% (10/30) vs 12% (4/34), P = 0.05), and preoperative renal dysfunction, which was more frequent in the RCP group (26% (9/34) vs 7% (2/30), P = 0.04). No significant difference was observed in outcomes between the groups; however, the integrated group had higher mortality, stroke and temporary neurological deficit than RCP-only. Conclusions: The observed trends in actual outcomes were a cause for concern. ACP combined with a short period of RCP did not provide better outcomes than RCP-only. The use of RCP remains warranted in our experience.