Practical Tips in Aortic Surgery , 1st ed. 2021
Clinical and Technical Insights

This textbook provides practical tips on the conduct of aortic surgery, from the aortic valve to the iliac arteries. It is organized as a series of Plates, each with a key central illustration, followed by bullet items of accompanying explanatory text. The accompanying text concentrates on specific, critical ?do?s and don?ts? that promote and enhance patient safety. Chapters include dozens of color illustrations by one of the nation?s premier medical illustrators, along with selected classic ?pen and ink? line drawings. Each central illustration is accompanied by additional secondary figures interspersed at intervals within the accompanying text. Each ?practical tip? has an accompanying short (15-30 second) video demonstrating vividly the specific didactic point being made in each Plate. Chapters provide Q&A sections, to promote an interactive feel and experience. The textbook shares practical, potentially life-saving tips?gleaned from over three decades of experience in thousands of aortic operations?regarding virtually every standard operation that arises in aortic surgery. 

Practical Tips in Aortic Surgery will be an essential resource for surgeons and trainees at all levels of experience: residents and fellows, surgical physician assistants, surgical nurses and technicians, and medical students. The book directly targets two surgical specialties: Cardiac Surgery and Vascular Surgery   

General Tips

·         General Approach

·         Cannulation Sites

·         Bevel Your Distal Ascending or Hemi-Arch Anastomosis

·         Aortic Wrap

·         Carbon Dioxide Flooding of the Pericardial Well

·         Pericardial Bridge for Delayed Sternal Closure

·         Pull Hard on Graft to Measure Length

·         Increase of Graft Diameter

·         Reinforcement of Posterior Wall of Aortic Anastomosis

·         Reinforced Sternal Closure

·         The Tightening Stitch

·         Towel Clip Technique to Control Re-entry Bleeding

·         Turn Off LV Vent Well Before Finishing Last Ascending Suture Line

·         Conduct of DHCA

·         Clamping the Aorta

o   Clamp above the subclavian

o   Early Recruitment of Left Subclavian Artery

·         Other Cerebral Perfusion Strategies

·         Swing Venous Line Down to Expose Aortic Root

·         Intraoperative Malperfusion

·         Surrounding the Ascending Aorta—Without Injuring the PA

·         Do NOT obliterate a chronic flap

·         Hugging but not Restricting the Innominate Artery with the Clamp

·         Do Not Cut Too Close to the Clamp

·         Graft Sizing

·         “Valerie Stitch” for Exposure of the Aortic Root

·         Cannulation of Left Inferior Pulmonary Vein

·         Left Atrial Cannulation in Atrial Fibrillation

·         The E-Rule: Never Start LA-FA Artery Perfusion w/o the Aorta Clamped

·         Remember the Pulmonary Artery for “Venous” Return

·         Mobilize the Posterior Wall Completely

·         Mobilize the Descending Aorta from the Esophagus

·         Sienna graft for Mega-aorta

·         The “Inclusion” Anastomotic Technique

·         Big Needle for Thick Aortas

·         Aneurysms of the Branches of the Aortic Arch

·         Attaching Arch Graft to Ascending Graft (Configurations)

·         BioGlue on Graft-to-Graft Anastomoses

·         Lung Adhesions

·         Adherence of Aneurysm to Chest Wall

·         Reoperative Adhesions

·         Extracting old prosthetic valves

Ascending Aorta and Aortic Arch

·         Aortic Morphology Determines Extent of Resection

·         Use the Corner of the Commissure to Advantage

·         Aortic Valve Repair

·         Ascending Aortic Replacement (*deeper stitches on non-coronary sinus)

·         Composite Graft (Aortic Root Replacement) (Bentall Procedure)

·         Composite Graft (Aortic Root Replacement) (Bentall Procedure)

·         V-Shaped Aortic Root Remodeling

·         Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement

·         Arch Replacement Options (2-vessel, 3-vessel, trifurcated graft)

·         Standard (Non-Frozen) Elephant Trunk Procedure

·         Retrieving the Elephant Trunk—Four Options

·         Stand-alone Elephant Trunk

·         Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

o   General Perspective

o   Cannulation

o   Sandwich Options

o   Proximal Anastomosis

o   Distal Anastomosis

o   Elephant Trunk

o   Frozen elephant trunk

o   Abdomen first

o   BioGlue

o   Late Degeneration (Proximal)(Distal)

o   A Note About Timing of Surgery for Acute Type A Aortic DIssection

·         Ross procedure

Descending and Thoracoabdominal Aorta

·         Descending Aortic Replacement

o   Incision

o   Proximal Anastomosis: Site Selection

o   DHCA for upper descending aortic surgery

o   Massively dilated upper descending aorta

o   Safety suggestions

o   Watch the nerves

o   Vertical veins

o   Thoracic duct

o   Anastomotic reinforcement

·         Acute Type B Aortic Dissection: Clinical Perspectives to Guide Surgery

·         Fenestration Procedure

·         Thoracoabdominal Aortic Replacement

o   Exposure

o   Perfusion

o   Visceral anastomoses

       Cobrahead Graft

o   Figure-of-Eight Stitches for Intercostals

o   Clipping the Spinal Arteries from the Outside

o   Methods of intercostal artery attachment

o   Paraplegia Prevention—General Approach to Spinal Cord Protection

§  Pre-Operative Spinal Artery Visualization

o   Post-Operative Care After Descending/Thoracoabdominal Aortic Replacement

·         Abdominal aortic replacement

·         Visceral artery aneurysms

·         Pulmonary Artery Aneurysms

Vascular Rings

·         General Comments

o   General Comments

o   Right Aortic Arch with Aberrant Left Subclavian

o   Kommeril’s Diverticulum

Dr. John Elefteriades is the William W.L. Glenn Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Yale University and Yale New-Haven Hospital until he became the Founding Director of the Aortic Institute at Yale in 2011. He received all his training, including undergraduate education, medical school, and residency at Yale, where he then joined  the faculty of the Yale University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Elefteriades served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology.  Dr. Elefteriades served as President of the International College of Angiology. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal AORTA, which he founded. He has been named consistently among The Best Doctors in America.  He is a frequently requested international lecturer, visiting professor, and guest surgeon—having lectured and/or operated in 33 countries. He is the author of over 450 scientific publications. He was selected as one of the ten best doctors in America by Men’s Health magazine. He has been featured in many dozens of print, radio, and television presentations. He has received the Walter Bleifeld Memorial Award for Distinguished Contribution in Clinical Research in Cardiology and the John B. Chang Research Achievement Award. In 2006, he received the Socrates Award from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, recognizing exceptional achievement in teaching and mentorship of residents. Dr. Elefteriades was named the William W.L. Glenn Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2006. In addition to many medical textbooks,  Dr. Elefteriades published the book Extraordinary Hearts, telling ten inspirational and instructional patient stories for the general public, as well as his first fiction work, the award winning medical mystery/ethics thriller Transplant. In 2018, Dr. Elefteriades was awarded an Honorary PhD by the University of Liege, in recognition of contributions to th

Offers practical tips and specific "do's and don'ts" on the conduct of aortic surgery

Provides hundreds of color images and videos demonstrating specific cases of aortic surgery

Presents over three decades of experience from thousands of aortic operations