The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 48, 592-594, Copyright © 1989 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Visceral and limb perfusion during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair
GT Christakis, A Panos, CM Peniston, SV Lichtenstein and TA Salerno
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair are at high
risk of operative morbidity and death. Aortic clamping and unclamping
stresses the myocardium, interrupts visceral and limb perfusion, and leads
to metabolic acidosis. Use of a simple technique to preserve distal
perfusion during the period of aortic clamping may reduce perioperative
morbidity. We describe a technique of visceral and limb perfusion that may
reduce surgical risk in high-risk patients.