Classic frozen elephant trunk (FET)
All patients underwent median sternotomy. The CPB is established by
right axillary artery and central venous cannulation. Once the target
temperature was reached, a period of circulatory arrest followed,
allowing for inspection of the aortic arch, the deployment of Thoraflex
Hybrid prosthesis and the distal anastomosis. The cerebral protection is
allowed through the antegrade perfusion by clamping the supra-aortic
vessels just before the opening of the aortic arch.
Once the distal anastomosis is completed, CPB is reinstituted through
the side branch of Thoraflex Hybrid prosthesis. The supra-aortic
branches are anastomosed, and aortic root procedure added if necessary.