Simultaneous repair of arch and abdominal aortic aneurysms. A simple new technique using a temporary bypass graft.

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerotic aneurysms in the aortic arch are associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms in up to 37% of cases. We have developed a single-stage approach to the repair of both aneurysms using a temporary bypass. SUBJECTS: Since November 1996, 5 patients underwent simultaneous repair of aneurysms in the aortic arch and in the infrarenal abdominal aorta, using a new temporary bypass graft technique. Entire arch replacement with simultaneous abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy was performed in one patient. The other 4 patients underwent distal hemi-arch replacement distal from the orifice of the brachiocephalic artery with simultaneous repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHOD: For the entire arch replacement procedure, blood flow to all major branches of the aortic arch was established using a bifurcated graft. This graft anastomosed to the ascending aorta was used as the proximal inflow of the temporary bypass graft. For the hemi-arch replacement procedure, the proximal inflow segment of the temporary bypass graft was anastomosed to the brachiocephalic artery. In both cases, the distal outflow segment of the temporary bypass graft was the graft used for repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. In order to prevent any clamp injury, Teflon felt was tightly wrapped around the aorta before the clamp was applied. RESULTS: Evaluation of the hemodynamic parameters measured during cross-clamping of the aortic arch revealed stable distal perfusion to the visceral organs and no excessive increase in cardiac afterload. All patients had an uneventful postoperative course and were discharged within 1 month of surgery. CONCLUSION: Our temporary bypass method is recommended for simultaneous replacement of aneurysms in the aortic arch and the abdominal aorta.     

Successful resection of an aortic arch aneurysm using a temporary trifurcation bypass graft

Resection of a syphilitic aortic arch aneurysm in a 62-yearold woman was accomplished using a trifurcation temporary bypass system. The bifurcation graft was sutured end-to-side to the ascending thoracic aorta, to the brachiocephalic trunk and to the left common carotid artery, respectively. The attached third limb end was anastomosed end-to-side to the infrarenal abdominal aorta. This technique enabled a larger shunt into the abdominal aorta. Occlusion of the iliac arteries proved to be effective in coping with hypotension while attending to the bypass and the volume replacement. The post-operative recovery was uneventful and the patient has remained well after 43 months.     

Operative results of distal aortic arch aneurysms--approaching methods, bypass techniques and complications

Ten patients underwent repair of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch from 1985 to 1989. There were 8 men and 2 women: aged 58 to 77 (average age 67 years). Seven patients had sacciform aneurysms which were closed by graft patch aortoplasty, and three patients had fusiform aneurysms which were corrected by inserting tube grafts. Seven aneurysms operated since 1988 were approached through median sternotomy continued with left anterior thoracotomy, so called door open method. This approach presented good view of the diseased aorta, and effective for preventing recurrent and phrenic nerve palsy. We used temporary bypass for 4 patients, cardiopulmonary bypass for 4 patients (separate carotid artery perfusion for 2 patients) and centrifugal pump for 2 patients during aortic cross clamping. One patient died intraoperatively from intractable bleeding and two patients died postoperatively from brain damage due to embolic episodes during the operations. These patients showed the severely irregular intima in the aortic arch and were complicated with rupture of the aneurysm or dissections arising from the aneurysms. It should be noticed that careless manipulation of the aortic arch and the brachiocephalic vessels cause cerebral complications in such cases.     

Redo operations for recurrent aneurysmal disease of the ascending aorta and transverse aortic arch

Sixty-seven operations were performed in 59 patients for aneurysmal disease occurring after previous operations involving the ascending aorta and transverse aortic arch. The initial aortic pathological condition included the following: fusiform aneurysm due to medial degenerative disease in 34 patients, 12 of whom had Marfan's syndrome; aortic dissection in a previously undilated aorta in 23; and aneurysm persisting or occurring after brachiocephalic bypass in 2. One of the latter had an aneurysm because of aortitis. Various operations initially performed did not completely treat the disease, and certain complications occurred spontaneously, including infection and dissection. The residual pathological condition led to the development of aortic insufficiency, aortic dissection, coronary artery insufficiency, and progressive aneurysmal dilatation. These complications were treated by composite valve graft replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta or the transverse aortic arch or both, simple aortic valve replacement, graft replacement of the ascending aorta or arch or both, and suture of false aneurysm with viable tissue wrap. Twenty patients (34%) had an aneurysm of the distal aorta. The entire aorta was replaced in 3, thoracoabdominal segments in 9, and the abdominal aorta in 1. Of the 59 patients, 49 (83%) were early survivors and 40 (68%) were alive on January 1, 1985. Principles of therapy that may have prevented the complications leading to reoperation include aneurysm replacement at the time of aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass; total replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve in patients with Marfan's syndrome; the same procedure or aortic valve replacement and separate graft replacement in patients with non-Marfan's medial degenerative disease; ascending aortic replacement in all patients with dissection combined with valve resuspension, aortic valve replacement, or composite valve graft depending on the involvement of the aortic sinuses and the presence of aortic insufficiency.     

Multiple aneurysm repair: hybrid approach to chronic dissection around visceral branches

The present case report details our experience with the hybrid approach for multiple aneurysms in the aortic arch, thoracoabdominal aorta, and around the aortic bifurcation. Total arch replacement for the arch aneurysm under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with antegrade cerebral perfusion was the first stage of aneurysm repair. Five months later, bifurcated graft replacement with debranching of four abdominal branches was undertaken as the second stage of treatment. Finally, stent-graft repair for chronic dissection of the thoracoabdominal aorta was performed utilizing a Gore-Tex Tag endovascular prosthesis. Over 7 months of treatment, all aneurysms were excluded from the aortic blood flow and pressure without abdominal organ dysfunction except a transiently elevated total bilirubin level. Although the patient had an episode of minor gastrointestinal bleeding after discharge, he is currently leading a normal life without limitations at home 5 months after the stent-graft repair.     

非体外循环下全主动脉弓替换术治疗主动脉弓降部动脉瘤的早、中期结果

目的 评价采用常温、非体外循环下全主动脉弓替换手术治疗主动脉弓、降部动脉瘤的术后早、中期结果.方法 2004年4月至11月,对连续7例主动脉弓降部动脉瘤病人实施常温、非体外循环下全主动脉弓替换手术.术后对所有病人进行长期随访,随访截止日期为2011年3月.7例均为男性,年龄23～75岁,中位年龄57岁.真性动脉瘤3例,假性动脉瘤4例,其中1例为弓降部巨大假性动脉瘤覆膜支架置入术失败者.采用胸部正中与左胸前外侧联合切口,全身肝素化后,依次在升主动脉前外侧壁安放主动脉侧壁钳,降主动脉与头臂动脉分别放置主动脉阻断钳,将带四分支人工血管依次与升主动脉行端-侧吻合、与降主动脉及3支头臂动脉行端-端吻合,最后闭合升主动脉残端,切除弓降部主动脉瘤壁.结果 平均胸降主动脉阻断(13.6±5.6)min,左颈总动脉阻断(5.7±0.8)min,无名动脉阻断(7.8±2.5)min,左锁骨下动脉阻断(11.2±1.5)min.术后使用呼吸机平均(12.3±4.1)h.病人全部生存.与同期常温体外循环下主动脉弓替换手术组相比,本组机械通气时间显著减少.无神经系统并发症.术后CT扫描结果显示,主动脉弓降部人工血管形态佳,吻合口周围无渗漏或假性动脉瘤形成.全组平均随访(79.7±2.1)个月,病人生活质量良好,复查CT结果均未见异常.无远期死亡.结论 在常温、非体外循环状态下实施全主动脉弓替换手术,是一种治疗主动脉弓、降部真性或假性动脉瘤的安全、有效的方法,严格把握手术适应证是手术成功的关键.

Abstract：

Objective Study the early and midterm results of a technique-total aortic arch replacement without using extracorporeal circulation or aortic bypass for the treatment of aortic aneurismal disease involving the transverse aortic arch and proximal descending aorta. Methods Between April and November 2004, 7 consecutive patients with true (n = 3) or false (n =4) aortic aneurysm underwent this procedure. The mean follow-up was 6. 6 years. The median age at operation was 57years ( range 23 to 75 years). Normothermia general anesthesia and median sternotomy combined with left anterior thoracotomy were administered. A partially occluding clamp was placed on ascending aorta and a longitude aortic incision was made. Anastomosis of a branched graft to ascending aorta in an end-to-side fashion was commenced. The descending aorta distal to the aneurysm was occluded and transected, and anastomosed to the distal end of the branched graft in an end-to-end fashion. Finally,the arch vessels were divided and anastomosed to the branches of the graft and the aneurysm excised. Results The average cross-clamp time of descending aorta, left common carotid artery, and innominate artery was (13.6 ±5.6)min, (5.7 ±0.8)min, and (7.8±2.5) min respectively. The mean intubation time was (12.3 ±4.1) hours. There were no adverse outcomes or neurologic complications in this series. All patients survived and recovered completely. The mean follow-up time was (79.7 ±2.1) months. All patients lead a normal life. There was no late death. CT follow-up study 6 years after surgery reveals no abnormal image. Conclusion Total aortic arch replacement without cardiopulmonary and aortic bypass is a feasible and effective method for the aortic aneurismal disease involving the transverse aortic arch and proximal descending aorta in selected patients.     

The hybrid total arch repair: brachiocephalic bypass and concomitant endovascular aortic arch stent graft placement

BACKGROUND: Repair of aortic arch aneurysm is technically demanding, requiring complex circulatory management. Very large atherosclerotic saccular aneurysms of the arch are grave markers of extensive arch and brachiocephalic atheromatous disease and represent high surgical risks for perioperative neurologic complications. Operative morbidity and mortality may be prohibitive with traditional surgical intervention. We described our experience with a hybrid procedure for total arch repair with a brachiocephalic bypass with a trifurcated graft followed by concomitant placement of a stent graft in the arch. METHODS: Since June 2005, we have performed the hybrid total arch repair in eight patients. A retrospective review was performed to evaluate the new technique. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67 years with a mean aneurysm size of 8 cm (range, 4.4 to 10 cm). Significant comorbidities included carotid stenosis, chronic renal insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Two patients had previous Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs. Three patients had previous sternotomy for type A dissection, ascending aortic aneurysm repair, and coronary artery bypass grafting. Transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated grade IV or V atheromatous disease in the arch and ascending aorta. Stent grafts were deployed antegrade directly into the ascending aorta in three patients and retrograde from the femoral artery in five patients. Technical success with complete aneurysmal exclusion was achieved in all patients (100%). At a mean follow-up period of 11.7 months, there was no incidence of endoleak. There was one death resulting from a perioperative myocardial infarction (first patient). Documented perioperative neurologic events (stroke) occurred in two patients, with both patients demonstrating no residual deficit at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Saccular arch aneurysms can be technically treated by total arch repair with brachiocephalic bypass and concomitant aortic arch stent graft placement. Hybrid arch repair provides an alternative to patients otherwise considered prohibitively high risk for traditional open arch repair.     

Aneurysms of the aortic arch. Experience of 19 cases]

From 1980 to 1990, 19 consecutive patients were operated for chronic aneurysm of the aortic arch: 16 men and 3 women with a mean age of 46 years (range: 20 to 72 years). Four aneurysms were proximal, with a distal limit in the left common carotid artery; 4 were distal, starting beyond the brachiocephalic trunk and 11 involved the entire aortic arch. Three were atheromatous, 9 were dystrophic, 1 was syphilitic, 1 was post-traumatic, 1 was secondary to coarctation and 4 was secondary to longstanding dissection. Four cases (21%) were in a state of pre-rupture. They were all operated under cardiopulmonary bypass with profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest in 11 cases (9 cases of aneurysm involving the entire segment II and two cases of distal aneurysms). Selective cannulation of the large cervical arteries supplying the brain was performed in 5 cases (3 cases of proximal aneurysms and 2 cases of aneurysms of the entire segment II). Seven patients simultaneously underwent aortic valve replacement and replacement of the ascending aorta. One patient underwent replacement of the descending aorta and another underwent an ascending aorta-supracoeliac aorta bypass graft. The early mortality was 10.5% (2 patients out of 19) and the late mortality was 5.8% (1 patient out of 17). The mean follow-up was 46 months (maximum: 9 years, minimum: 9 months), and the 9-year actuarial survival rate was 86%. This study demonstrated the superiority of selective carotid cannulation as a means of cerebral protection.     

One-staged operation for multiple aortic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta; report of a case

A 66-year-old man underwent successfully on one-staged operation for aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta. For the operation of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, a temporary bypass was used from the proximal side of aneurysm to the distal one. The sacculer aneurismal wall of the descending thoracic aorta was repaired by patch formation using a knitted graft. Abdominal aortic aneurysm was replaced using a Gelsoft graft. The operation time was 7 hours and 35 minutes. Blood transfusion was not needed. The postoperative course was uneventful. It is suggested that one-staged operation for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm under the assist of temporary bypass and abdominal aortic aneurysm is possible.     

Total aortic arch aneurysm repair using a stent graft without cardiac or cerebral ischemia

A 74-year-old man with an aortic arch aneurysm and a chronic type IIIb aortic dissection underwent total aortic arch repair without cerebral or cardiac ischemia. After confirming no atheromatous change in the ascending aortic wall, a custom-designed 4-limbed graft, prepared for both arterial return of cardiopulmonary bypass and reconstruction of the arch vessels, was anastomosed onto the right side of the ascending aorta. The 3 arch vessels were then bypassed sequentially during systemic cooling and monitoring cerebral perfusion with near-infrared oxymetry. After aortic cross-clamping, a stent graft was inserted into the distal arch from the distal ascending aorta, maintaining cerebral and cardiac perfusion. This procedure is indicated especially in a high-risk patient who has an aortic arch aneurysm without severe atheromatous change in the ascending aorta and the arch vessels.     

Treatment of aneurysms of the aortic arch. A progress report

Graft replacement therapy was employed in the treatment of 67 patients with aneurysms of the transverse aortic arch. Patients were divided into three groups according to the extent of the aneurysm, which determined method of treatment and results. Group I consisted of 37 patients with distal aneurysms treated by simple proximal and distal clamping and aortic reconstruction, with survival in 36. Similarly located lesions in three patients in Group II, in whom the aorta could not be clamped proximally, were treated by hypothermia and circulatory arrest without graft inclusion technique, with survival in one. In Group III, the 27 patients, three with recurrent lesions and 19 with extensive aneurysms including the entire aorta in four, were treated by hypothermia, brachiocephalic arterial clamping, graft inclusion, and direct brachiocephalic vessel reattachment. The distal aneurysmal disease was replaced in most cases by a staged operation including total aortic replacement in two patients. Of the 27 patients in this group, 26 survived both the arch and subsequent operations.     

Simultaneous Operations for Combined Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Purpose. To assess whether simultaneous operations are appropriate for combined thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms.Methods. Simultaneous operations were performed for combined thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms in nine patients. The thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) was repaired first, followed by repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Selective cerebral perfusion was used in eight patients, after the exception of one who underwent replacement of the ascending aorta under hypothermic circulatory arrest. The abdominal organs were perfused during distal anastomosis in surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection or aortic arch aneurysm; via the femoral artery with an aortic balloon occlusion catheter in one patient, and via an occlusion catheter with a perfusion lumen in two patients.Results. All patients underwent planned simultaneous repair of the AAA. One of the patients who underwent simultaneous replacement of both the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta was left with paraplegia, and one patient died suddenly of massive hemoptysis and melena on the 29th postoperative day. Autopsy revealed that the bleeding had been caused by aorto-broncho-esophageal fistulae. The overall operative mortality was 11%.Conclusions. Simultaneous repair of combined TAA and AAA can be safely performed; however, the risk of paraplegia should be considered, especially with simultaneous repair of concomitant aneurysms of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta.     

Surgical treatment of right subclavian aneurysm--a case report

A case of arteriosclerotic aneurysm of right subclavian artery is reported. The patient was 74 years old male. A huge arteriosclerotic aneurysm was found at the origin of right subclavian artery. Calcification of thoracic aorta and arch vessels was prominent. Under the temporary bypass between brachiocephalic artery and right common carotid artery, replacement of the aneurysm with 8 mm Dacron graft was successfully performed. To avoid the systemic embolism, partial clamp was applied to intact arteries. As the perfusion of the brain was maintained through the temporary bypass during the reconstruction of right common carotid and subclavian arteries, intracranial complication was prevented.     

Predictive factors for mortality and cerebral complications in arteriosclerotic aneurysm of the aortic arch

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cerebral complications is high in patients with aortic arch aneurysm. METHODS: Between December 1977 and December 1995, 246 patients with arteriosclerotic arch aneurysm underwent operation. Thirty-nine patients had an aneurysm involving the entire arch, 193 had only distal arch aneurysm, and 14 had arch aneurysm extending to the descending aorta. Eighty-seven patients underwent replacement of the total arch, 85 had replacement of only the distal arch, 14 had simultaneous replacement of the descending aorta, 45 had patch repair, and 15 had thromboexclusion. Selective cerebral perfusion was used in 112 patients and partial bypass in 58 in the earlier series of patients, but deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion technique was exclusively applied in the most recent 76 patients. RESULTS: There were 50 (20%) early deaths and 37 (19%) late deaths. Postoperative stroke was found in 26 (11%) patients of which 13 (50%) died. Mutual predictive factors for postoperative mortality and stroke were earlier series, preoperative chronic renal failure, ruptured aneurysm, arch clamping during procedure, and using partial cardiopulmonary bypass. Among 129 patients operated on during the most recent 5 years, early mortality and incidence of stroke decreased to 14.7% and 6.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results of operations for arteriosclerotic aneurysms of the transverse aortic arch in 246 patients during a period of 17 years have been improving but are still not satisfactory.     

Combined valve-sparing root replacement and total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk

We report a case of simultaneous repair of an extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm from the aortic root to the distal aortic arch. A 54-year-old male had annuloaortic ectasia and a transverse aortic and distal arch aneurysm. Aneurysms of the descending aorta and the abdominal aorta were also demonstrated. The patient underwent aortic valve-sparing root reconstruction, replacement of the aortic arch and placement of a frozen elephant trunk stent-graft concomitantly through a median sternotomy incision. Because a complicated procedure was necessary, root reconstruction was performed first and coronary perfusion was resumed. This case suggests that the surgical procedure should be determined on the bases of the situation of thoracic aortic aneurysm and the general condition of the patient. Treatment for extensive diseased aorta from the aortic root to the distal aortic arch is a surgical challenge. Although single-stage repair is one of the options for this condition, it is very invasive. Total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique is efficacious to exclude distal arch aneurysm or descending aortic aneurysm through median sternotomy. An aortic valve-sparing operation was developed to preserve the native aortic valve function in order to improve the patient's quality of life. We herein report a case of concomitant total arch replacement using a frozen elephant trunk and aortic valve-sparing operation for extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm.     

Progress in the treatment of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch: approach through median sternotomy

AIM: A review of past and current operative procedures for the treatment of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch is presented in conjunction with a series of 43 patients. In this study, distal aortic arch aneurysm refers to an aneurysm involving at least the origin of the left subclavian artery, but not extending beyond the left common carotid artery. We excluded dissection aneurysm and extended aneurysm to the descending thoracic aorta from this study. METHODS: Between January, 1985, and March, 2000, 43 consecutive patients (37 males, 6 females; mean age 67.5 years) underwent repair of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch. The approach to the aneurysm was through a left thoracotomy in 4 patients and a median sternotomy in 39 patients, including an additional left thoracotomy continued to a median sternotomy in 2 patients. The supportive methods during surgery were left heart bypass using a centrifugal pump in 4 patients (LHB group), cardiopulmonary bypass with selective cerebral perfusion in 11 patients (SCP group), and cardiopulmonary bypass with continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion in 28 patients (RCP group). In the RCP group, the "aortic no-touch technique" was applied in 21 patients. The operative methods were patch closure in 4 patients, graft replacement of the distal arch using the inclusion technique in 14 patients, and total arch replacement using the exclusion technique in 25 patients. RESULTS: There were 5 hospital deaths: 1 patient in the LHB group, intractable bleeding; 1 patient in the SCP group, rupture of the distal anastomosis; 3 patients in the RCP group, stroke, rupture of the dissection arising from the distal anastomosis, and perioperative myocardial infarction. Stroke occurred in 1 patient (25%) with LHB, 3 patients (27.2%) with SCP, and 1 patient (3.6%) with RCP. Among the postoperative survivors, a new onset of left recurrent nerve palsy occurred in 2 patients (66.7%) with LHB, 1 patient (10%) with SCP, and in 1 patient (4%) with RCP. No neurological injury or left recurrent nerve palsy occurred in the patients who underwent the "aortic no-touch technique". CONCLUSION: Total arch replacement with the graft exclusion technique under profound hypothermic circulatory arrest using RCP through the median sternotomy is a promising surgical treatment for atherosclerotic distal aortic arch aneurysm. The "aortic no-touch technique" further improved the surgical results of the distal aortic arch aneurysm.     

Three staged operation for aneurysms of abdominal thoracoabdominal and aortic arch

Sixty-one year old man, who was diagnosed as abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, underwent only Y graft replacement for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Two years later, the graft replacement was carried out for the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Three years after the second operation, graft replacement of the aortic arch was performed under separate cerebral perfusion technique as a supportive measure, because of the gradual growth of the arch aneurysm. We recommend the distal aneurysm (abdominal aortic aneurysm) should be removed first to prevent the detachment of the thrombus in the aneurysm during proximal operation.     

A hybrid technique of aortic arch branch transposition and antegrade stent graft deployment for complete arch repair without cardiopulmonary bypass.

We describe a minimally invasive technique for complete aortic arch repair without cardiopulmonary bypass. A 77-year-old man with severe obstructive airways disease presented with aneurysmal disease of his aortic arch. Through a median sternotomy and the application of a side-biting clamp, the common trunk of a bifurcation Dacron graft was anastomosed to the ascending aorta. The limbs of the graft were anastomosed to the innominate and left common carotid arteries, respectively. The left subclavian artery was ligated. Two endoluminal stent grafts were deployed via a side arm in the Dacron graft, covering the whole arch. Completion angiography and transesophageal echocardiography revealed excellent seating of both stent grafts, with no endo-leaks. The patient had a rapid, uneventful post-operative recovery. Follow-up CT scanning revealed complete exclusion of the arch aneurysm.     

Transverse aortic arch aneurysm: improved results of treatment employing new modifications of aortic reconstruction and hypothermic cerebral circulatory arrest.

The results of graft replacement for aneurysms involving the entire transverse aortic arch have lagged far behind that achieved for similar lesions located elsewhere. For example, prior to the study reported here, the mortality rate of the former, in our experience, was 25%, whereas it was only 8% for the most extensive forms of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The difference had been due to limitations and complications of methods employed for cerebral and myocardial protection. The high mortality rate in our patients was due to the deficiencies of temporary bypass graft and cardiopulmonary bypass, and separate brachiocephalic perfusion employed for this purpose. This report is concerned with the use of profound hypothermia for cerebral protection and the application of graft inclusion and direct brachiocephalic arterial reattachment to prevent bleeding in region of operation, as so successfully employed in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. The entire thoracic aorta was involved in four patients, the aortic valve in two patients, coronary artery bypass was performed in two patients, and the pulmonary artery was obstructed in one patient. Employing the techniques described in this report, all eight patients with these extensive lesions survived without complication.     

Transaortic stented graft implantation for aortic arch aneurysm

Objectives: Despite steady improvements, surgery for aortic arch diseas, including the distal arch, continues to result in high rates of morbidity and mortality. We have performed aortic arch repair using a transaortic stented graft implantation into the descending aorta in 8 patients who had true aortic arch aneurysms, and here have reviewed the efficacy and problems from this procedure.Methods: Six patients underwent transaortic stented graft implantation into the descending aorta with bypass to the arch vessels. The other two underwent stented graft implantation into the descending aorta with replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. One patient had a ruptured aneurysm.Results: Each operation was performed via a median sternotomy without left thoracotomy. There was no new postoperative occurrence of left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. All the five patients without perioperative neurological complication could be extubated within 24 h after surgery. In each case, postoperative enhanced computed tomography scans showed successful thromboexclusion of the aneurysm. There was no endocleak and no graft migration. One patient suffered cerebral injury. Spinal cord injury occurred in 2 patients, and this serious complication may have been caused by prolonged ischemia in the lower body and the long stented graft.Conclusions: This surgical strategy was effective for arch aneurysm and produced less damage than a conventional procedure to the postoperative respiratory function, while the operative technique need to be improved to decrease the frequency of brain and spinal cord injury.