Protruding aortic arch atheromas: Risk of stroke during heart surgery with and without aortic arch endarterectomy

Abstract

Patients with protruding aortic arch atheromas are at high risk for intraoperative stroke, significant and multiple morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and death resulting from heart surgery. Aortic arch endarterectomy is strongly associated with intraoperative stroke; its use should be carefully considered in light of these results.