A new technique of myocardial protection during aortic root replacement: antegrade/retrograde coronary perfusion.

Aortic root surgery has traditionally been performed with an arrested and cooled heart using cardioplegia. A new technique of myocardial protection was utilized in the treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm with severe aortic valve regurgitation requiring aortic root replacement with the Cabrol technique. Retrograde and antegrade perfusion of the heart with blood allowed the surgical operation to be performed safely while the heart was beating and eliminated the ischemic reperfusion injury which occurs during cardioplegic arrest and reinstitution of blood perfusion after removal of the aortic cross-clamping required in traditional techniques.