Methods: Eighty-four patients (58 males, 26 females; mean age 53.8±13.2 years; range 20 to 77 years) were operated on for ascending aortic pathologies with axillary arterial cannulation between November 2006 and January 2009. Overall, 124 procedures were performed in 84 patients, and the most commonly performed procedure was the replacement of the ascending aorta which was employed in 64 patients (76.2%). The most common indication for operation was ascending aortic aneurysm that was present in 51 patients (60.7%). Three (3.6%) patients had previously undergone open heart surgery. Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 51 (60.7%) patients, and the axillary artery was cannulated directly in 75 (89.3%) patients and via a side graft in nine (10.7%) patients.

Results: Postoperatively, three patients (3.6%) had in-hospital mortality because of sepsis, intraoperative bleeding, and low cardiac output syndrome. Neurological complications were seen in 10 (11.9%) patients (8 had transient neurological dysfunction and 2 had stroke). The mean duration of hospital stay was 5.1±5.6 (range 1 to 46) days. Postoperative follow-up was 10.3±5.5 (range 1 to 15.5) months on average (total of 68.5 patient/years). There was no mortality during the follow-up after discharge. No relationship was found between the method of cannulation and mortality or, neurological complications.

Conclusion: The axillary artery is a safe route for arterial cannulation, and the axillary route does not cause an increase in postoperative mortality and morbidity.