Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion reduced in-hospital mortality and permanent focal neurological deficit in patients with elective aortic arch surgery†.

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the outcome after elective aortic arch surgery with circulatory arrest to determine the impact of different brain protection strategies on neurological outcome and early and late survival.

METHODS: A total of 925 patients were included. The patients were assigned to 2 groups based on the type of cerebral protection strategy used during circulatory arrest [hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) n = 224; antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ASCP) n = 701]. The propensity score matching (1:1; 210 vs 210 patients) approach was used to minimize selection bias and to obtain comparable groups.

RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality and permanent focal neurological deficit rates were 5.6% (n = 52) and 5.4% (n = 50) and were significantly lower in patients who received ASCP (4.4% and 3.4%, respectively) as compared to those who underwent HCA (9.4% and 11.6%, respectively) (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001). The propensity-matched analysis showed significantly lower rates of in-hospital mortality [3.8% vs 9.5% (HCA)] and permanent focal neurological deficit in ASCP group [2.9% vs 11.9% (HCA)]. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, age >70 years, coronary artery disease, circulatory arrest time >40 min and mitral valve disease as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The use of ASCP was protective for early survival. Cox regression analysis revealed that long-term mortality was independently predicted by age, left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, total arch replacement, prior cardiac surgery, PVD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and previous stroke, whereas ASCP was protective for late survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Elective aortic arch surgery is associated with acceptable early and late outcomes. The ASCP is associated with a significant reduction in-hospital mortality and occurrence of permanent neurological deficits.