ORIGINAL ARTICLES  CARDIAC SECTION 

The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2014 December;55(6):841-7

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Axillary and innominate artery cannulation during surgery of the thoracic aorta: a comparative study

Di Eusanio M., Dimitri Petridis F., Folesani G., Berretta P., Zardin D., Di Bartolomeo R. ✉

Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Sant’Orsola‑Malpighi Hospital, Bologna University, Bologna, Italy

AIM: The aim of this paper was to compare hospital outcomes in patients undergoing elective surgery of the thoracic aorta using the right axillary artery (RAA) and the innominate artery (IA) as a cannulation site for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) arterial inflow.
METHODS: Between September 2009 and October 2011, 71 patients underwent elective aortic procedures with RAA (N.=27) and IA (N.=44) cannulation. Selection of RAA vs. IA was not randomized, but rather based on surgical judgment of best indication in each patient. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables were compared according to cannulation site.
RESULTS: Preoperative comorbidities, underlying aortic pathology, and surgical procedures were similar in RAA and IA patients. Hospital mortality was 11.1% and 6.8% in RAA and IA patients, respectively (P=0.243). Overall, 4 brain infarctions occurred, all left sided (RAA: 3.7% vs. IA: 6.8%; P=0.508). One brachial plexus injury, and 1 arterial dissection occurred in RAA group. No cannulation-related morbidity was observed in IA patients. Theoretical CPB flow could be reached in all patients, but resistances through the cannulation sites were more favourable in IA patients.
CONCLUSION: RAA and IA were associated with similarly valid results. The choice between the two, based on the specific patient’s characteristics, can improve outcomes after aortic surgery.