Case report Vascular thoracic Normothermic total arch replacement without hypothermic circulatory arrest to treat aortic distal arch aneurysm in a patient with cold agglutinin disease
Cold agglutinin disease although rare, can lead to serious complications for patients undergoing cardio thoracic surgery, especially when cardiopulmonary bypass is applied under hypothermic circulatory arrest. We describe normothermic total arch replacement without hypo thermic circulatory arrest in a patient with cold agglutinin disease. The patient tolerated all procedures well and did not develop cerebral ischemia due to surgical maneuvers or thrombotic or haemolytic complications due to cold agglutinin disease. Although endovascular aortic repair is the first choice under such complex conditions, this method could also serve as an alternative strategy when endovascular aortic repair is precluded. 2011 Published by European Association for Cardio Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.