We analyzed the temperature in proximal aortic repair with moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) and evaluated the effect of the cooling status on postoperative outcomes.

A total of 340 patients who underwent elective ascending aortic replacement or total arch replacement with moderate HCA from December 2006 to January 2021 were studied. The change in body temperature trends recorded during surgery was shown graphically. Several parameters, such as the nadir temperature, cooling speed and the degree of cooling (cooling area), which was the area under curve of inverted temperature trends from cooling to rewarming as calculated by the integral method, were analyzed. The relationships between these variables and a major adverse outcome (MAO) postoperatively defined as prolonged ventilation (>72 h), acute renal failure, stroke, reoperation for bleeding, deep sternal wound infection or in-hospital death were evaluated.

An MAO was observed in 68 patients (20%). The cooling area was larger in the MAO group than in the non-MAO group (1668.7 vs 1383.2°C min; P < 0.0001). A multivariate logistic model showed that old myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, chronic renal dysfunction, cardiopulmonary bypass time and the cooling area were independent risk factors for an MAO (odds ratio = 1.1 per 100°C min; P < 0.001).

The cooling area, which indicates the degree of cooling, shows a significant relationship with an MAO after aortic repair. This finding indicates that the cooling status with HCA can affect clinical outcomes.