Clampless and Sutureless Hybrid Technique for Aortic Arch Debranching on a Porcelain Aorta

An innovative hybrid approach to the supraaortic vessels in a porcelain aorta and severe fibrotic tissue reaction at the neck is described. The technique is demonstrated in an 80-year-old woman with previous several carotid operations but still experiencing recurrent transient ischemic attacks. Clinical success was achieved at midterm follow-up, demonstrating the efficacy of hybrid treatment for this high-risk patient. Novel prosthetic vascular grafts that can be applied without cross-clamping may also provide a solution to approaching a porcelain aorta and difficult anatomies. (C) 2016 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons