CARbon dioxide flooding to reduce postoperative neurological injury following surgery for acute Type A aortic dissection. A prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial

Neurological complications after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) increase patient morbidity and mortality. Carbon dioxide flooding is commonly used in open-heart surgery to reduce the risk of air embolism and neurological impairment, but it has not been evaluated in the setting of ATAAD surgery.The CARTA trial is a single-center, prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial of acute type A aortic dissection surgery with carbon dioxide flooding of the surgical field. Eighty consecutive patients undergoing repair of acute type A aortic dissection, and who do not have previous neurological injuries or ongoing neurological symptoms, will be randomized (1:1) to either receive carbon dioxide flooding of the surgical field or not.