Management of the Ascending Aorta in Routine Cardiac Surgery

It is well known that subtle neurologic and neuropsychologic adverse effects are associated with cardiac surgery. Microgaseous emboli may arise from the cardiac pulmonary bypass apparatus; however, most particulate emboli arise from the ascending aorta. Atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta may effect up to 38% of cardiac surgical patients greater than 50 years of age. In addition to avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass with off-pump procedures, …