Objective: Antegrade cerebral perfusion has proved to be a reliable method of brain protection during surgery of thoracic aneurysms. In addition, the drawbacks of deep hypothermia may be avoided. This study examines the outcome after surgery for acute type A aortic dissections (AAD) using moderate (30 °C) systemic hypothermia compared with conventional techniques of cerebral protection. Methods: Between January 1999 and August 2003, 74 patients underwent repair of acute type A aortic dissection. Moderate systemic hypothermia (30 °C) with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion through subclavian artery (group A) was used in 18 patients. Deep hypothermia (20 - 24 °C) was employed using either retrograde (18 patients, group B) or antegrade (38 patients, group C) cerebral perfusion. Tube graft replacement was performed in 55, valve-sparing procedure in 8, and composite graft replacement in 11 patients. Results: The 30-day mortality was 5.5 % in group A, 5.5 % in group B, and 15.8 % in group C (A vs. C and B vs. C; p < 0.01). New postoperative permanent neurologic deficit occurred in 5.5 % of patients in group A, 16.7 % in group B, and 13.2 % in group C. Mean chest tube drainage within the first 24 h in groups A, B and C was 703 ± 338, 1178 ± 820, and 1447 ± 802 ml, respectively (A vs. B and A vs. C; p < 0.01). Cardiopulmonary bypass, ICU, and hospital times were significantly shorter in group A. Conclusions: Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion with moderate systemic hypothermia appears to be a safe and sufficient tool for brain protection during AAD repair. In avoiding deep hypothermia, this technique may help to reduce cardiopulmonary bypass time and hypothermia-related side effects.