Percutaneous cardioplegic arrest before repeat sternotomy in patients with retrosternal aortic aneurysm

ObjectiveRedo sternotomy in patients with arterial cardiac structures adherent to the sternum carries a risk of catastrophic bleeding. In some those cases, particularly if they have undergone multiple previous operations, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest alone may not provide sufficient time for controlled dissection.MethodsWe present series 6 cases at exsanguination during sternal re-entry successfully reoperated using percutaneous cardioplegic induced before completed avoid or minimize time.ResultsAll survived their complex operations.ConclusionsPercutaneous allows safer repeat sternum.