Total Arch Replacement Under Normothermic Beating Heart Surgery

The authors propose a new method for total arch replacement under normothermic beating heart surgery. The surgical procedure was performed with no time limit. The cardiopulmonary bypass was terminated without using inotropic agents. The patient regained consciousness in postoperative hour 8 without any neurologic deficit. This new strategy avoids the potential devastating side-effects associated with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and myocardial stunning. (c) 2008 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.