Technique Articles

Bloodless Repair of Aortic Arch with Dual Aortic Cannulation in a Jehovah’s Witness Patient

The Departments of ^* Clinical Perfusion,
^† Cardiothoracic Surgery; and
^‡ Anesthesia, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Address correspondence to: Melinda S. Valleley, CCP, MPS, Department of Perfusion, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114. E-mail: mvalleley@childrenshospital.org

Received: 14 November 2016
Accepted: 22 March 2017

Abstract

Various methods for surgical repair of the aortic arch are described throughout the literature with many focused on cannulation techniques and degree of systemic cooling in an effort to reduce postoperative morbidities. Despite advancements in techniques, this surgery is still often associated with higher levels of blood loss and subsequent allogenic blood transfusions. Although blood products can be safely transfused to the majority of patients undergoing repair of the aortic arch, the complexity and risk is further multiplied when the patient is of Jehovah’s Witness faith and refuses blood transfusions. This paper will detail our technique of surgical repair of the aortic arch in a Jehovah’s Witness patient with dual aortic cannulation and our multidisciplinary approach to avoiding blood products.