肾动脉平面以上主动脉疾病的微创治疗

目的探讨血管移植物腔内治疗肾动脉平面以上主动脉疾病的微创治疗. 方法 1999年3月～2003年12月,在DSA监视下,以血管腔内微创法治疗136例大动脉疾病,包括夹层动脉瘤116例、真性胸主动脉瘤11例、假性胸主动脉瘤7例、主动脉缩窄2例.最低位病变位于腹腔动脉和肠系膜动脉之间. 结果围手术期死亡6例(4.4%).在1枚腔内移植物到位后仍有内漏25例,其中2例经球囊扩张后消失,余23例经再次植入支架移植物后内漏消失18例,3例在复查中自动消失,2例为1年以上的Ⅰ和Ⅱ型内漏.发生后期内漏2例(因移植物移位和病变发展各1例).随访1～42个月,平均11个月,死亡5例(4例死因与原发病的治疗无关,1例为多发性胸主动脉瘤复发),失访11例,114例存活. 结论微创方法治疗高风险的大动脉病变相对安全有效,似有良好发展前景,但所用装置和释放方法有待改进,远期疗效尚待观察.     

微创外科治疗大动脉疾病

目的 探讨胸主动脉疾病的微创治疗方法。方法 1999年3月至2003年3月在X线监视下，经股或髂外动脉，以微创法用血管腔内置入物治疗112例大动脉疾病，包括夹层动脉瘤95例，真性胸主动脉瘤12例，主动脉减速伤3例，主动脉狭窄2例。结果 治疗均获成功。围手术期死亡4例。发生近期内漏6例，其中4例经再次支架或弹簧圈置入治愈。后期内漏2例(因置人物移位和病变发展各1例，给予相应治疗)。随访1—30个月(平均11个月)，失访10例，93例生存，3例死于与手术无关的疾病，另1例多发性动脉瘤复发，在再治疗时死于严重的造影剂过敏。结论 微创方法治疗高风险的大动脉病变是相对安全、有效、可行的方法，具有良好的发展前景，但远期疗效尚待观察。     

少见的主动脉病变的腔内隔绝术：附8例报告

总结腔内隔绝术治疗少见大动脉疾病的疗效。8例少见大动脉疾病，均采用腔内隔绝术进行治疗，报告其术前，手术及术后的情况。8例大动脉疾病患者（Stanford A型主动脉夹层3例，Stanford B型主动脉夹层1（转流后）, 主动脉弓部真性动脉瘤3例，肾水平腹主动脉瘤1例）。Stanford A型主动脉夹层2例术后因并发症死亡，余患者全部存活，随访生活质量良好。腔内隔绝术治疗大动脉疾病具有创伤小，疗效可靠的优点，其远期效果尚有待近一步观察。     

创伤性血管病变的腔内治疗

目的 探讨微创血管腔内技术治疗创伤性血管病变的可行性。方法 对已进行腔内治疗的6例创伤性血管病变进行回顾性分析。结果 6例创伤性血管病变包括颈总动脉假性动脉瘤、锁骨下动静脉瘘、胸主动脉假性动脉瘤、髂动静脉瘘、髂动脉假性动脉瘤、股浅动脉假性动脉瘤各1例。所有病变均在局部麻醉下进行，经腔内移植物治疗后均立刻重建血流通道。6例均得到随访，2个月至4年内所有移植物均通畅。无任何并发症。结论 腔内技术治疗创伤性血管病变具有成功率高、并发症少、损伤小等优点，可望成为创伤性血管病变的重要治疗手段。     

血管腔内移植物治疗大动脉疾病的探讨

目的探讨以血管腔内移植物为主的血管腔内疗法治疗胸或胸腹主动脉疾病的疗效和存在问题。方法治疗包括夹层动脉瘤、真性和假性胸主动脉瘤、主动脉减速伤和缩窄患者共137例。主要病变的最低部位在腹腔动脉和肠系膜动脉之间。除血管腔内治疗法外,尚辅以腹主或髂动脉-肠系膜上动脉、或腋动脉-左颈总动脉等架桥术。结果发生急性内脏动脉缺血而急症开腹手术2例。早期漏7例。围手术期死亡6例(4．4％)。随访1～43(平均11)个月,发现后期内漏2例、血管腔内移植物部分断裂1例。DeBakeym型夹层治疗后发生Ⅰ型夹层病变1例。后期死亡5例(4例与腔内移植物无关,1例为多发性动脉瘤复发),失访11例,115例存活。结论以血管腔内移植物治疗高风险的大动脉病变相对安全有效,具有发展前景;但器材有待改进、远期疗效有待观察。     

主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉瘤的一期腔内治疗(附1例报告)

目的 :探讨胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉瘤病人作一期腔内隔绝术治疗的可行性、手术操作技巧及并发症防治原则。临床资料 :1例StanfordB型胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉及双侧髂动脉瘤的病人于 2 0 0 1年 2月在本中心接受了腔内隔绝术。术前CTA显示 :主动脉自弓降部开始出现夹层 ,一直延伸到腹主动脉分叉上6cm ,假腔的最大直径达 6 .6cm ;肾下腹主动脉瘤的最大直径为 4 .5cm ,瘤颈受夹层累及 ;双侧髂总动脉各有一直径 2 .5cm的真性动脉瘤。手术在全麻下进行 ,降主动脉植入规格为 34mm× 34mm× 1 30mm的直管型Talent移植物封闭夹层裂口 ;腹主动脉植入规格为 2 6mm× 1 4mm× 1 4 5mm的分叉型Talent移植物。将腹主动脉瘤和双侧髂动脉瘤隔绝 ,手术耗时 30 0min ,失血 30 0ml,透视 62min ,造影 5次 ,使用造影剂 2 0 0ml。术后病人恢复顺利 ,术后第 2天出ICU ,术后 30d出院。随访 1年 ,病人生活质量良好 ,复查CT示胸主动脉、腹主动脉瘤及髂动脉瘤完全封闭。结论 :腔内隔绝术的微创特点使一期治疗StandordB型主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉瘤成为一种比较安全的手术。术后应先处理胸主夹层处理腹主动脉瘤 ,以减少后半程手术对先前植入物的影响     

大动脉外科疾病的腔内治疗

发生于大动脉的外科疾病主要是真性动脉瘤、夹层动脉瘤和假性动脉瘤等动脉扩张病。早在1684年,Moore将一段金属丝导入腹主动脉瘤腔内,希望促发瘤内血栓形成。这是人类的首次大动脉腔内治疗尝试,而其真正的发展仅仅是最近20年的事。上世纪80年代中后期开始了动脉瘤腔内隔绝系统的实验研究,到1990年,Parodi成功地施行了世界上第一例腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术,在国内,笔者于1997年率先开展了该手术[1],并在此后迅速推广应用于胸主动脉瘤、夹层动脉瘤、假性动脉瘤和动静脉瘘等疾病的治疗。1主动脉真性动脉瘤的腔内治疗发生在主动脉的真性动脉瘤可分…     

血管外科新进展——微创外科在大动脉外科中的作用

大动脉疾病 ,如夹层动脉瘤 ,可自升主动脉起始 ,涉及主动脉弓、降主动脉以至腹主动脉分叉 ,为当今尚未解决的难题 ,在急性期数小时或数日内可突然发生死亡。收集 96 3例 ,1周内死亡者 70 % ,3月内死亡者 90 % ,剩余病例中的 2 5 %死于瘤体破裂[1] 。即或对于已有弓降部膨隆性 (动脉瘤性 )病变的夹层动脉瘤 ,应用远侧腹主动脉开窗术[2 ] 或升主动脉与腹主动脉架桥和永久钳夹主动脉峡部远侧降主动脉的手术 (Ｃａｒｐｉｎｔｉｅｒ手术 ) [3 ] ,也无非是一些仅达到缓解性目的的手术 ,已被列入规范治疗方法领域。如若用体外循环 ,甚至于深低温停…     

胸主动脉夹层合并腹主夹层动脉瘤的一期腔内治疗

目的：探讨胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉夹层动脉瘤病人一期腔内隔绝术治疗的可行性、手术操作技巧及并发症防治原则。方法和结果：1例Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉夹层动脉瘤及双侧髂动脉瘤的病人于2006年3月在本中心接受了腔内隔绝术。MRA检查提示．主动脉弓降交界处开始出现夹层．真腔受压变窄,以胸腹交界处及腹主动脉中段最明显,最扁窄处为0．5cm;假腔在腹主动脉中段明显,最大径约5．0cm,假腔再人口位于左髂总动脉近端。双侧髂总动脉迂曲并呈瘤样扩张。腹腔干、肠系膜上动脉及双侧肾动脉均发自真腔。手术在全麻下进行：降主动脉植入规格为34-34-100mm的直管型Talent移植物,封闭夹层裂口：腹主动脉植入规格为AOI26-12-170mm Talent移植物,远端连接12．12．68mmTalent移植物至一侧髂外动脉,行双侧股-股转流。瘤体隔绝完全,手术约耗时300min,失血1000ml,透视6min,使用威视派克450ml。术后21d出院。术后随访半年,病人生活质量良好,复查CTA显示：移植物通畅,瘤腔内均完全形成血栓。结论：腔内隔绝术的微创特点使一期治疗Stanford B型主动脉夹层动脉瘤合并腹主动脉瘤成为一种比较安全的手术。主动脉长段隔绝也有利于降低截瘫的发生率。     

微创腔内人工血管治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤

目的　介绍腔内人工血管通过微创法置入治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤的经验。方法　采用由不锈钢“Z”形支架和超薄涤纶膜组成的腔内人工血管 ,治疗 5例胸主动脉夹层和 1例腹主动脉夹层。其中 3例已累及肾下腹主动脉 ,且有明显的肾功能损害。 6例病人均经CT和动脉造影证实。将 1～ 2个腔内人工血管压缩入 2 4F导送器 ,经右股动脉切开后置入病变部位。其中 1例因进入困难 ,而改用左侧股动脉。结果　术后造影和CT均表明 ,破口被成功封闭 ,假腔内血栓形成 ,无严重并发症。高血压明显下降 2例 ,血尿消失 4例。随访 7～ 12个月 ,CT检查除 1例术后 3个月腔内人工血管发生移位需再置 1枚移植物外 ,其余病人均已痊愈。结论　腔内人工血管治疗主动脉夹层明显简化了手术操作 ,减小了手术风险     

Should the transverse aortic arch be replaced simultaneously with aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia in Marfan syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine, on the basis of the late fate of the intact aortic arch with abnormal tissue after aortic root replacement, whether the intact aortic arch should be replaced prophylactically at the time of aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia in Marfan syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in 85 patients with Marfan syndrome who underwent aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia with or without aortic dissection (mean age 37 years, range 19-61 years). These 85 patients were divided into four groups according to the postoperative condition of the residual aorta. In group I (n = 47), the patients underwent aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia with or without localized dissection in the ascending aorta. In these patients the residual aorta, including the aortic arch, was therefore intact. In group II (n = 10), the aortic arch was intact, although the descending thoracic aorta was dissected because of the preoperative type B dissection. In groups III and IV, the patients had type A dissection involving the transverse arch associated with annuloaortic ectasia. In group III (n = 13), residual dissection existed in the descending thoracic aorta after concomitant total arch replacement. In group IV (n = 15), the aortic arch and the descending thoracic aorta were dissected. RESULTS: There were 5 early deaths (3 in group I, 1 in group II, and 1 in group III). Subsequent operations were required in 10, 5, 6, and 7 cases in groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Regarding the aortic arch, only 2 of 53 survivors of the initial hospitalization with an intact aortic arch (groups I and II) underwent subsequent total arch replacement for the onset of dissection in the aortic arch, and 4 of 14 survivors of the initial hospitalization with a residual dissecting arch (group III) needed subsequent total arch replacement. Actuarial freedom from arch repair among patients with an intact aortic arch (91% at 15 years) was significantly higher than that among patients with a residual dissecting arch (49% at 15 years, P =.0078). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of new dissection in the residual intact arch after aortic root replacement was extremely low. Therefore prophylactic replacement of the intact arch does not appear to be necessary at aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia in Marfan syndrome.     

Double-barrel technique for preservation of aortic arch branches during thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) may involve either planned or inadvertent coverage of aortic branch vessels when stent grafts are implanted into the aortic arch. Vital branch vessels may be preserved by surgical debranching techniques or by placement of additional stents to maintain vessel patency. We report our experience with a double-barrel stent technique used to maintain aortic arch branch vessel patency during TEVAR. Seven patients underwent TEVAR using the double-barrel technique, with placement of branch stents into the innominate (n = 3), left common carotid (n = 3), and left subclavian (n = 1) arteries alongside an aortic stent graft. Gore TAG endografts were used in all cases, and either self-expanding stents (n = 6) or balloon-expandable (n = 1) stents were utilized to maintain patency of the arch branch vessels. In three cases the double-barrel stent technique was used to restore patency of an inadvertently covered left common carotid artery. Four planned cases involved endograft deployment proximally into the ascending aorta with placement of an innominate artery stent (n = 3) and coverage of the left subclavian artery with placement of a subclavian artery stent (n = 1). TEVAR using a double-barrel stent was technically successful with maintenance of branch vessel patency and absence of type I endoleak in all seven cases. One case of zone 0 endograft placement with an innominate stent was complicated by a left hemispheric stroke that was attributed to a technical problem with the carotid-carotid bypass. On follow-up of 2-18 months, all double-barrel branch stents and aortic endografts remained patent without endoleak, migration, or loss of device integrity. The double-barrel stent technique maintains aortic branch patency and provides additional stent-graft fixation length during TEVAR to treat aneurysms involving the aortic arch. Moreover, the technique uses commercially available devices and permits complete aortic arch coverage (zone 0) without a sternotomy. Although initial outcomes are encouraging, long-term durability remains unknown.     

主动脉弓部病变杂交手术后并发症的原因分析及处理

目的 对主动脉弓部病变杂交手术后常见并发症的发生原因进行分析.方法 对2001年1月至2008年12月接受杂交手术的34例主动脉弓部病变患者的资料进行回顾性分析.其中男性28例,女性6例,年龄34～75岁,平均年龄56.7岁.主动脉央层27例,其中A型21例,B型6例;主动脉弓部真性动脉瘤7例.杂交手术包括升主动脉-无名动脉-左颈总动脉Y形旁路3例,升主动脉-左颈总动脉-左锁骨下动脉Y形旁路2例,升主动脉-左颈总动脉旁路连同冠状动脉旁路移植1例,左颈总动脉-右颈总动脉旁路13例,右颈总动脉-左颈总动脉及左颈总动脉-左锁骨下动脉旁路3例,左锁骨下动脉-左颈总动脉-右颈总动脉Y形旁路2例,左颈总动脉-左锁骨下动脉旁路9例.一期行腔内修复26例,分期行腔内修复8例.结果 总的并发症发生率为32.4%(11/34),其中致死性并发症发生率11.8%(4/34).并发症包括主动脉央层破裂1例,脑卒中2例,吻合口漏并假件动脉瘤2例,心肌梗死1例,肺栓塞1例,颈部血肿1例,内漏3例.除4例围手术期死亡外,其余病例随访6～50个月,平均28.6个月,均健康生存.结论 肤主动脉弓部病变杂交手术后的并发症较一般腔内修复术更为多见,降低致死性并发症的发生率是该手术获得进一步推广的关键.     

Progress in surgery of the aortic arch]

We summarize our experience out of 133 operations involving the aortic arch which were performed in 130 patients throughout the last 13 years. Aortic pathology was aneurysmal disease in 57 cases, acute aortic dissection in 44, and chronic aortic dissection in 29 patients. Operative strategies included partial replacement or repair of the aortic arch in 80 cases and subtotal or total replacement of the transverse arch in 53 patients. In 19 cases presenting with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta, implantation of an elephant trunk prothesis was performed simultaneously. The operations were performed during circulatory arrest (10-64 min, mean: 27 min) and in deep hypothermia (nasopharyngeal temperature: 11-25 degrees C). Recently, two modifications of the technique were introduced: First, the site of arterial inflow cannulation is changed by intubating the prothesis directly during reperfusion providing antegrade perfusion. Second, in patients with acute aortic dissection, the false lumen of the aortic root and arch is filled with resorcinformol glue and the layers are readapted by this means after anatomical reconstruction. Overall, early mortality was 14.3% and was much higher in acute dissection (22.7%) when compared to chronic dissection (6.9%, p = 0.110). A total of 24 reoperations were necessary in 16 patients of this group with subsequent replacement of the descending thoracic aorta being most frequently performed (n = 14). Actuarial survival after 5 years was not significantly different between the groups (69.1%) but showed a progressive decline for patients with aneurysms and chronic dissection (11 late deaths) while no late deaths occurred in acute dissections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

裂口位于主动脉弓远端Stanford A型主动脉夹层的腔内修复

目的总结腔内修复术治疗裂口位于主动脉弓远端Stanford A型主动脉夹层的临床经验。方法2001年1月至2006年6月在中山大学附属第一医院血管外科通过股动脉入路行主动脉腔内修复术,对21例内膜撕裂口位于主动脉弓远端和近端降主动脉的Stanford A型主动脉夹层进行血管腔内治疗,根据椎动脉造影确定是否重建左锁骨下动脉。结果全组21例中,急性夹层13例,慢性夹层8例,均接受了血管腔内带膜支架修复术,手术成功率100%。17例同时封闭了左锁骨下动脉,其中4例行左锁骨下动脉重建。4例发生内漏,1例术后发生脑梗死。平均随访22.3个月(6~65个月),所有病例均存活。假腔内完全血栓形成12例,部分血栓形成9例。结论主动脉腔内修复术治疗内膜撕裂口位于主动脉弓远端和近端降主动脉的Stanford A型主动脉夹层是有效和安全的,具有微创、成功率高和并发症少等特点。     

Concomitant replacement of the aortic root and aortic arch with or without secondary thoracoabdominal aorta replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Extensive aortic replacement, such as concomitant aortic root and arch replacement, thoracoabdominal aortic repair, and complete thoracic aorta replacement, remains controversial. We studied surgical morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing concomitant aortic root and arch replacement, and those undergoing secondary replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta after this preceding procedure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between January, 1987 and March 1999, 21 patients (mean age: 52 years) underwent concomitant aortic root and arch replacement involving 3 surgical procedures--aortic root replacement with composite graft and arch (n = 12), aortic root replacement with valve sparing and arch (n = 4), or aortic root replacement with composite graft and arch and elephant trunk (n = 5). RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 4.8%. Six patients (mean age: 42 years) underwent secondary thoracoabdominal aorta replacement after the concomitant root and arch procedure. The mean time until secondary surgery was 9.5 months. There was 1 hospital death. CONCLUSION: Concomitant replacement of the aortic root and arch, or secondary replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta after concomitant root and arch replacement can be conducted with low surgical morbidity and mortality.     

主动脉弓降部病变的外科综合治疗

目的探讨开胸体外循环直视手术、解剖外旁路联合动脉腔内修复(endovascular aneurysm repair,EVAR)杂交手术以及完全EVAR手术治疗主动脉弓降部病变的方法及疗效。方法 2006年10月-2011年9月,收治48例主动脉弓降部病变患者。男31例,女17例;年龄28～81岁,平均52.4岁。病程1～90 d,平均10.2 d。累及弓部分支的B型主动脉夹层30例,主动脉弓降部真性动脉瘤11例,主动脉弓降部假性动脉瘤3例,主动脉弓穿透性溃疡伴壁间血肿3例,主动脉食管瘘1例。15例行开胸体外循环直视手术,12例行解剖外旁路联合EVAR杂交手术,21例行完全EVAR手术。结果开胸体外循环直视手术患者中术后发生出血1例,昏迷1例,短暂精神症状3例,肺炎4例,急性肾功能不全2例,多器官功能衰竭2例;最终3例死亡。解剖外旁路联合EVAR杂交手术患者术后1例出现右顶枕叶大面积梗死伴肺炎、肾功能衰竭。完全EVAR术后无并发症发生。术后41例获随访,随访时间2～60个月,平均28.6个月。3例患者出现左锁骨下动脉窃血综合征表现,因症状轻微,未予特殊处理,均自行缓解。其余患者均恢复正常生活。结论对于主动脉弓降部病变,采用开胸体外循环直视手术创伤大、风险高,将逐步被EVAR替代,解剖外旁路联合EVAR杂交手术是治疗此病变的重要方法,完全EVAR手术是其发展方向。     

Extra-anatomic aortic bypass via sternotomy for complex aortic arch stenosis in children

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent aortic narrowing after repair of aortic coarctation or interrupted aortic arch, as well as diffuse, long-segment aortic hypoplasia, can be difficult to manage. Extra-anatomic ascending aorta-descending aorta bypass grafting through a sternotomy is an alternative approach for this problem. METHODS: Since 1985, 19 patients aged 2 months to 18 years (mean 10.7 years) underwent extra-anatomic bypass with 10- to 30-mm Dacron grafts. The initial diagnosis was coarctation with hypoplastic arch in 15, interrupted aortic arch in 3, and diffuse long-segment aortic hypoplasia in 1. Seventeen of the children had a total of 22 previous operations: transthoracic interposition or bypass graft (n = 7), end-to-end anastomosis (n = 7), subclavian arterioplasty (n = 6), and synthetic patch (n = 2). The mean time from initial repair was 8.0 years (range 0.6-18 years). Three children had previous sternotomies. Cardiopulmonary bypass was avoided in all but 6 patients (5 with simultaneous intracardiac repairs). RESULTS: No hospital or late deaths occurred. On follow-up from 4 months to 14.7 years (mean 7.9 years), no reoperations for recurrent stenosis were performed. Two patients have arm-to-leg pressure gradients: 20 mm Hg at rest in 1 patient and a 60-mm Hg systolic exercise gradient with no resting gradient in the other. One patient required exclusion of an aortic aneurysm at the old coarctation repair site 13 years after extra-anatomic bypass. Three children had subsequent successful cardiac operations. CONCLUSIONS: Extra-anatomic bypass is an effective and relatively easy approach for selected cases of complex or reoperative aortic arch obstruction. It should be considered as an alternative operative technique for complex aortic arch reconstruction.     

Concomitant replacement of the aortic root and aortic arch with or without secondary thoracoabdominal aorta replacement

Objectives: Extensive aortic replacement, such as concomitant aortic root and arch replacement, thoracoabdominal aortic repair, and complete thoracic aorta replacement, remains controversial. We studied surgical morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing concomitant aortic root and arch replacement, and those undergoing secondary replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta after this preceding procedure.Subjects and Methods: Between January, 1987 and March 1999, 21 patients (mean age: 52 years) underwent concomitant aortic root and arch replacement involving 3 surgical procedures—aortic root replacement with composite graft and arch (n=12), aortic root replacement with valve sparing and arch (n=4), or aortic root replacement with composite graft and arch and elephant trunk (n=5).Results: Overall hospital mortality was 4.8%. Six patients (mean age: 42 years) underwent secondary thoracoabdominal aorta replacement after the concomitant root and arch procedure. The mean time until secondary surgery was 9.5 months. There was 1 hospital death.Conclusion: Concomitant replacement of the aortic root and arch, or secondary replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta after concomitant root and arch replacement can be conducted with low surgical morbidity and mortality.     

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.