Modified Gott shunt to avoid left ventricular overload and cerebral hypoperfusion during distal aortic arch surgery

We present a simple solution to address—at the same time—the issue of spinal perfusion, overload on the left ventricle, and brain perfusion during complex distal arch and descending aortic surgery. It is a modification of a passive Gott shunt that includes an extra 10-mm tube interposed between the side port of the ascending aorta cannula and the left subclavian artery. This technique may represent an extra option for surgeons during complex aortic surgery to maintain satisfactory distal perfusion, to reduce the cardiac load, and to provide adequate perfusion to the brain.