Does Cross-Clamping the Arch Increase the Risk of Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair?

Repair of thoracic aneurysms arising in the distal arch can be repaired with a technique based on simple cross-clamping without an increase in mortality or major neurologic injury. Recurrent nerve palsy is much more common with this approach but is well-tolerated without increasing the need for tracheostomy.