Aortic Cross-Clamp

Aortic Cross Clamp – Primarily used in cardiac surgery, this instrument is applied to the aorta to temporarily stop blood flow between the heart and the rest of the body. This allows the heart to be placed in a state of cardioplegia, where it stops beating for the procedure. Due to the critical nature of this step, the operation must be performed quickly, or additional measures—such as cooling the heart—are taken to preserve its function and prevent damage.