Hypothermic circulatory arrest for cardiac valve replacement reoperations.

Three patients had cardiac valve replacement using hypothermic circulatory arrest. The patients had multiple previous operations via median sternotomy, and 1 had functioning coronary bypass grafts. This technique provided simple and safe reentry to the heart without necessity of control of the aorta or venae cavae, adequate myocardial and cerebral protection from ischemia, and excellent operating conditions for the valve replacement.