Stroke in surgery of the arteriosclerotic descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: influence of cross-clamping technique of the aorta.

Objective: The risk of stroke caused by dislodgment of loose atheromatous plaque or mural emboli is increased by cross-clamping of the aorta. Some patients undergo descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with proximal aortic cross-clamping between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of proximal aortic cross-clamping in arteriosclerotic aneurysm or dissecting aneurysm repair.

Methods: Between May 1984 and May 2003, 81 patients underwent elective surgery for distal arch or descending aortic aneurysm repair with proximal aortic cross-clamping between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. To evaluate the influence of the proximal aortic cross-clamping, patients were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone arteriosclerotic aneurysm repair (group I, n=25) and patients who had undergone dissecting aneurysm repair (group II, n=56).

Results: Eight (9.9%) of the 81 patients had a stroke. Six strokes occurred in operations for arteriosclerotic aneurysm repair group I and two strokes occurred in operations for dissecting aneurysm repair group II (24 vs 3.6%; p=0.009). In-hospital mortality rates were 12% in group I and 8.9% in group II (p=0.70). Major postoperative complications included renal failure requiring hemodialysis (in 4.2% of the patients in group I and in 8.3% of the patients in group II, p=0.99) and pulmonary complication (in 20% of the patients in group I and in 16% of the patients in group II, p=0.67).

Conclusions: Cross-clamping between head vessels should be avoided if at all possible when operating on patients who have arteriosclerotic descending thoracic aneurysms.