Modification of Surgical Aortoatrial Shunts for Inaccessible Bleeding in Aortic Surgery

Bleeding after complex ascending aortic, aortic root or transverse arch surgery which is inaccessible or difficult to control may present a major problem. Here, we describe a modified Cabrol-shunt technique using complete mediastinal coverage with decompression into the innominate vein where the classical technique is not suitable. The long-term fate of the classical aortoatrial and modified mediastinal to innominate shunts has been analyzed to assess their potential complications.

Key words:

Aortic surgery - Bleeding - Modified Cabrol technique

1 Presented at the 3rd Joint Meeting of the German, the Austrian and the Swiss Societies for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Lucerne, February 9-12, 2000.

References

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• 2 Kouchoukos N T, Wareing T H. Management of complications of aortic surgery. In: Waldhausen JA, Orringer MB, eds. Complications in Cardiothoracic Surgery. St. Louis: Mosby 1991: 224-236
• 3 Muehrcke D D, Szamicki R J. Use of pericardium to control bleeding after ascending aortic graft replacement.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1989;  48 706-708
• 4 Blum M, Panos A, Lichtenstein S V, Salerno T A. Modified Cabrol shunt for control of haemorrhage in repair of type A dissection of the aorta.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1989;  48 709-711

1 Presented at the 3rd Joint Meeting of the German, the Austrian and the Swiss Societies for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Lucerne, February 9-12, 2000.