Background: Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion has been introduced as a strategy of cerebral protection in operations on the aortic arch with hypothermic circulatory arrest. Several techniques of unilateral and bilateral cerebral perfusion have been described with varying results.
Methods: Patients underwent either unilateral cerebral perfusion with a cannula in the right subclavian artery or bilateral cerebral perfusion, with an additional cannula in the left carotid artery. A simplified Seldinger-type technique for subclavian artery cannulation was employed. Results were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression analysis and propensity score analysis to adjust for nonrandomized treatment assignment.
Results: Of 65 patients, 17 (26%) had unilateral cerebral perfusion. Mortality was 11% (n = 7); 14% (n = 9) had a stroke. In multivariable analysis, unilateral cerebral perfusion was significantly associated with stroke (odds ratio 6.6 [1.2 to 36]). Age more than 70 years was associated with in-hospital death (odds ratio 12 [1.3 to 113]), and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery was associated with adverse outcome (odds ratio 23 [1.8 to 299]). Balancing variables in a propensity score analysis, stroke remained significantly more common with unilateral brain perfusion (29% versus 0%, p = 0.045). Complications associated with subclavian artery cannulation were encountered in 1 patient (1.5%).
Conclusions: The described cannulation technique is safe and effective. Bilateral cerebral perfusion is easily achieved and is associated with decreased stroke risk, and should be the preferred brain protection strategy.