Direct Innominate Artery Cannulation for Thoracic Aortic Surgery

<b>Objectives</b>: Direct innominate artery cannulation is a viable and effective alternative for arterial inflow during thoracic aorta surgery, applicable in elective and emergent cases. This technique ensures reliable circulatory control. <b>Methods</b>: A single-center retrospective study of 208 cases that underwent thoracic aortic surgery between January 2010 and December 2021 was performed. The primary outcomes were in-hospital and remote mortality and the secondary outcomes were adverse neurologic events. <b>Results</b>: The median age of the patients was 69 years. The male gender accounted for 63.9% of the cases. The most represented surgical interventions consisted of hemiarch replacement in 105 cases (50.5%) and ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement (wheat procedure) in 71 cases (34.1%). The operative mortality rate was 5.3%, with six cases attributed to aortic-type dissection. The overall remote mortality rate at five years was 7.7. Postoperatively, 70 patients experienced alterations in the level of consciousness, with 12 of these cases belonging to the dissection group. Six patients with permanent neurologic symptoms had a positive computed tomography scan. Of the eleven patients with negative brain computed tomography scans, nine experienced temporary neurological deficits, while two suffered from permanent neurological damage. <b>Conclusions</b>: Direct innominate artery cannulation represents a safe and effective method for providing arterial inflow during cardiopulmonary bypass, offering an outstanding alternative to traditional sites for both planned and urgent surgical interventions.