Axillary artery cannulation in surgery of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch.

Potential advantages of axillary artery perfusion instead of femoral perfusion are antegrade aortic flow with decreased risk of atheremboli, low risk of false lumen perfusion in aortic dissections, avoidance of groin manipulation, and a possibility of antegrade cerebral perfusion during cardiocirculatory arrest. In 20 patients undergoing proximal aortic surgery, perfusion via the axillary artery was performed with direct cannulation or with an end-to-side anastomosed Gore-Tex graft. In two patients conversion to femoral artery cannulation was necessary. There were no axillary complications, hospital mortality was three out of 22, and no stroke occurred.