The authors proposition is to make an experimental study of two methods of cerebral protection to be used during aortic arch aneurysm resection. The methods to be evaluated were profound systemic hypothermia (under 20ºC) whith great vessels occlusion and profound systemic hypothermia with selective right carotid artery perfusion. Two groups of 15 dogs each were submitted either to profound systemic hypothermia with great vessels occlusion (Group I), or to profound systemic hypothermia with selective right carotid artery perfusion (Group II). Serial jugular vein samples for pH and PaCO2 were analyzed to evaluate ischemic cerebral metabolic derangements. Hystopathological studies were also performed 45, 90 and 135 minutes, through animal sacrifice in each experiment. The results have shown good cerebral protection with both methods in the 45 minutes ischemic interval. At 90 minutes Group II method has conferred better cerebral protection than Group I. At 135 minutes of cerebral ischemia neither method could afford cerebral protection against ischemia.
cerebral protection; aortic arch aneurysms