OBJETIVE: Establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass using the right subclavian artery with a supraclavicular approach. METHOD: Between october 2001and march 2002, 4 patients were operated with the diagnosis of Stanford type A aortic dissection. The supraclavicular approach to the right subclavian artery was used for establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass in all of them. RESULTS: The right subclavian artery was canulated directly, without interposition of grafts. There was no neurovascular complication related to the procedure nor wound site complications. The hospital mortality was 25%. The death was not procedure related. CONCLUSION: The supraclavicular approach to the subclavian artery allows a good exposition of this artery in a region where it has enough size for direct canulation and establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, with satisfactory canula position.
Aorta; Aorta; Aneurysm dissecting; Extracorporeal circulation
