Failure to exclude a saccular arch aneurysm during hybrid repair: arch replacement without cerebral circulatory arrest.

Thoracic endovascular aortic reconstruction (TEVAR) is increasingly used in the management of descending aortic pathology including aneurysms, dissections and transaction. When treating aortic arch pathology, hybrid procedures have been devised, in which major supraaortic arteries are translocated using a variety of techniques. Such hybrid procedures offer an attractive alternative to open arch procedures in frail elderly patients in whom the risks of open repair are considerable. We describe a surgical bail-out procedure which was used during a hybrid aortic arch replacement when endovascular aneurysm exclusion could not be achieved. 2009 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.