Aortic arch reconstruction surgery represents a challenge for the medical personnel involved in treatment. Along the years, the perfusion strategies for aortic arch reconstruction have evolved from deep hypothermic cardiac arrest to antegrade cerebral perfusion with moderate hypothermia, and recently to a combined cerebral and lower body perfusion with moderate hypothermia. To achieve a lower body perfusion, several cannulation strategies have been described. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of utilizing an arterial sheath introduced in the femoral artery to achieve an effective lower body perfusion.

We included patients who underwent an aortic arch reconstruction surgery with a lower body perfusion, from January 2017 to June 2019. To achieve a lower body perfusion, a three-way stopcock was connected to the arterial line, where one end was connected to the central cannulation for cerebral perfusion and the other to an arterial sheath that was introduced through the femoral artery. A total of 25 patients were included. Peri- and postoperative lactate and creatinine levels and signs of malperfusion were recorded.