Central cannulation for type A acute aortic dissection.

We present a simple new method for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass to treat type A acute aortic dissection. Antegrade blood flow in the true lumen is theoretically best to prevent malperfusion and retrograde embolization. Central cannulation can be performed in the true lumen of the dissected ascending aorta using an ultrasonographically guided puncture technique such as 'Seldinger's method'.