Aortic operation after previous coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective Aortic surgery for progressive aortic valve disease or aortic aneurysm after previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a challenging procedure. We report the outcome of aortic reoperation after previous CABG and evaluate our management of patent grafts and our methods for obtaining myocardial protection.Methods: From February 2001 to July 2003, 6 patients with progressive aortic valve disease and aneurysm of the thoracic aorta were operated on. The group comprised 3 men and 3 women with a mean age of 67.6 years. There were 4 patients with an aneurysm of the aortic arch, 1 with chronic ascending aortic dissection, and 1 with progressive aortic valve stenosis. The interval between previous CABG and aortic surgery was 74.0±44.2 months. All reoperations were performed via median resternotomy. Myocardial protection was obtained by hypothermic perfusion of patentin-situ arterial grafts following cold-blood cardioplegia administration via the aortic root under aortic cross clamping.Results: The operative procedure was aortic arch replacement in 4 patients, ascending aortic replacement with double CABG in 1, and aortic valve replacement in 1. All patients survived the reoperation. Postoperative maximum creatine kinase-MB was 49.2±29.8 and no new Q-waves occurred in the electrocardiogram nor were any new wall motion abnormalities recognized on echocardiography. There were no late deaths during a follow-up of 30.7 months.Conclusion: Reoperative aortic procedures after CABG can be performed safely with myocardial protection via hypothermie perfusion of a patentin-situ arterial graft. (Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54:155-159)     

Minimized mortality and neurological complications in surgery for chronic arch aneurysm: axillary artery cannulation, selective cerebral perfusion, and replacement of the ascending and total arch aorta

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral complication is still a major concern in surgery for arteriosclerotic aortic arch disease. For preventing this complication, axillary artery cannulation, selective cerebral perfusion, and replacement of the ascending and arch aorta were applied to thoracic aortic aneurysm involving aortic arch. METHOD: From May 1999 to July 2002, consecutive 39 patients with true aneurysm (29 patients) or chronic aortic dissection (10 patients) involving aortic arch underwent replacement of the ascending and arch aorta with an elephant trunk under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass through the axillary artery cannulation and selective cerebral perfusion. The brain was continuously perfused without any intermission through the axillary artery. Concomitant operation included coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in two patients, aortic valve replacement (AVR) in one, Bentall operation in two, mitral valve replacement (MVR) in one, and aortic valve sparing operation in one. Patient age at operation was 40-84 (72 + 9) years and 24 of them were older than 70 years of age. RESULTS: There was one operative death (2.5%) due to bleeding from the left lung, and one hospital death due to respiratory failure. Postoperative permanent neurological dysfunction was found in one patient (2.5%). Two patients presented temporary neurological dysfunction (5%). Thirty-six of the 39 patients were discharged from hospital on foot. CONCLUSION: Continuous perfusion through the axillary artery with selective cerebral perfusion and replacement of the ascending and arch aorta may minimize cerebral complication leading to satisfactory results in patients with chronic aortic aneurysm involving aortic arch.     

Surgery for distal aortic arch aneurysm with a patent left internal mammary-to-coronary artery graft; report of a case

We report a case of 62-year-old male who suffered from a distal aortic arch aneurysm developed 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Preoperative angiography revealed a distal arch aneurysm and a patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft. Graft replacement of the total aortic arch was performed using a 4 branched graft. After the re-median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass was established with ascending aortic perfusion and right atrium (RA) drainage. Myocardial protection was achieved with root cold blood cardioplegia and LIMA continuous cold blood perfusion. Distal anastomosis was performed under selective cerebral perfusion and during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Postoperative course was satisfactory and the patient was discharged without complications.     

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.     

升主动脉和弓部动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的：总结升主动脉和弓部动脉瘤手术治疗经验，以期进一步提高手术疗效。方法：自2000年7月至2002年5月应用深低温停循环（DHCA）和上腔静脉逆行脑灌注（RCP）技术手术治疗升主动脉和弓部动脉瘤20例，其中急症手术5例。施行全弓置换术2例，全弓置换和象鼻手术3例，半弓置换术15例。同期行Bentall手术8例，升主动脉置换术或同时行主动脉瓣置换术12例，冠状动脉旁路移植术1例。结果：术后早期死亡1例，短时间浅昏迷1例，呼吸功能不全2例，肾功能不全2例，无晚期死亡。结论：DHCA和RCP技术是手术治疗升主动脉和弓部瘤的安全、有效方法，急性A型夹层动脉瘤的手术方式取决于内膜破裂口的位置；正确掌握DHCA和RCP技术，手术方式和手术技术、围术期处理是提高手术疗效的关键因素。     

One advice to the decision of graft size for ascending and total arch graft replacement (in a case of differential diameters in ascending aorta and descending aorta)

We carried out the surgery of thoracic aortic aneurysm in fifty-eight patients from June 1994 to February 1999 (including aortic dissection in twenty-six patients). The mean size of grafts were 28.1 mm in ascending graft replacement, 25.8 mm in both ascending and arch graft replacement and 23.8 mm in descending graft replacement. The grafts for ascending aortic aneurysm were significantly larger than those for descending aortic aneurysm. In two of twenty-six patients undergoing both ascending and arch graft replacement, different size of grafts were used for ascending replacement and for arch replacement with satisfactory results in terms of bleeding from the anastomotic sites. Case 1; A 45-year-female with aortitis syndrome and aortic regurgitation due to annuloaorticectasia and thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent simultaneous aortic root replacement with composite graft (25 mm St. Jude Medical valve and 28 mm Hemashield graft) and total arch replacement (30 mm Hemashield graft with two side branches). Case 2; A 64-year-female was diagnosed as chronic type II dissecting aneurysm combined with acute type I aortic dissection. Ascending aorta was replaced with a 26 mm Hemashield graft, and the aortic arch was replaced with a 24 mm Hemashield graft with three side branches.     

胸主动脉瘤合并冠心病同期外科治疗(附15例报告)

目的 总结胸主动脉手术同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术的经验。方法1999年6月至2002年7月，胸主动脉瘤手术同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术15例，均为男性；年龄40～66岁，平均57．2岁；体重60～89kg，平均70．2kg。病种包括主动脉根部瘤5例、升主动脉瘤2例、弓部瘤3例、主动脉夹层5例。经胸骨正中切口在全麻低温体外循环下手术14例；左外侧切口非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植同期股股转流降主动脉置换术1例。结果术后早期30d内死亡1例，随访1～36个月，无远期死亡，无再次手术及冠心病相关事件发生。结论胸主动脉置换术与冠状动脉旁路移植术能够安全同期进行，同期冠心病的再血管化对预防冠心病相关事件的发生有积极作用。     

"杂交"手术治疗DeBakey Ⅰ型主动脉夹层

目的 总结应用无深低温停循环的升主动脉置换、升主动脉-主动脉弓分支血管旁路、腔内隔绝的"杂交"手术治疗DeBakey Ⅰ型主动脉夹层的方法和经验.方法 2009年1月至2010年6月,39例、平均年龄(55±16)岁的DeBakey Ⅰ型主动脉夹层病人进行无深低温停循环的"杂交"手术.病人经股动脉、右腋动脉插管灌注,先于常规体外循环下行升主动脉和主动脉瓣置换,再采用四分支人工血管、"Y"形人工血管或单根人工血管行升主动脉-主动脉弓分支血管旁路手术,再经股动脉逆行径路数字减影血管造影(DSA)下或术中顺行径路食管超声定位下行主动脉弓-降主动脉腔内隔绝术.结果 全组均手术成功,升主动脉处理时8例行单纯升主动脉人工血管置换,20例行Bentall手术(其中冠状动脉移位采用Carbrol法11例),11例行Wheat手术;升主动脉-主动脉弓分支血管旁路手术采用四分支人工血管16例、"Y"形人工血管15例、单根人工血管序贯法8例;主动脉弓-降主动脉腔内隔绝术采用DSA下股动脉逆行径路36例,术中人工血管分支顺行径路3例,均使用1枚支架.体外循环(61±22)min,主动脉阻断(48±18)min.术后(30±9)h拔除气管插管,24 h胸液小于300 ml,无偏瘫、截瘫、严重感染、凝血障碍等并发症.所有病人均治愈出院,平均术后(21±6)天出院.术后随访1～15个月,平均(8.4±7.2)个月,病人均健康生存,无脏器功能不全.术后3个月行CT主动脉血管成像检查,显示膈肌水平假腔闭合率为91.2%.结论 常温体外循环下升主动脉置换、升主动脉-弓部血管旁路、腔内隔绝的"杂交"手术治疗DeBakey Ⅰ型主动脉夹层,简化了DeBakey Ⅰ型主动脉夹层外科治疗方法,该手术方法避免了深低温停循环,减少了术后并发症,提高了外科治疗效果.

Abstract：

Objective Some major procedures for DeBakey type Ⅰ aortic dissection used to be performed with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, which had been associated with more complications than seen with standard extracorporeal circulation. We reviewed the cases who received the treatment for DeBakey type Ⅰ aortic dissection by hybrid procedure without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The procedure consisted of ascending aorta replacement, ascending aorta-aortic arch branch vascular bypass reconstruction and endovascular graft exclusion. Methods From January 2009 to June 2010, 39 patients [mean age (55 ±16) years] who had DeBakey Ⅰ aortic dissection underwent hybrid procedure without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The femoral artery and right axillary artery were cannulated for perfusion. The ascending aorta and/or aortic valves were replaced under conventional extracorporeal circulation with Bentall procedure or Wheat procedure. The aortic arch branch vessels were dissected and the proximal part was sealed. Then the ascending aorta-aortic arch branch vascular bypasses were constructed with 4-bifurcation vascular grafts, Y-shape bifurcated vascular grafts or artificial vessels. Finally the endovascular grafts were deployed via the femoral incisions monitored dynamically with DSA, or via the ascending aortic bifurcated vessels monitored with transesophageal echocardiography. Results The operation succeeded in all 39 patients. Eight patients underwent ascending aorta replacement without aortic valve replacement or prosthesis, 20 patients underwent Bentall procedure ( Carbrol procedure were used in 11 cases), and 11 underwent Wheat procedure. For ascending aorta-aortic branch vascular bypass reconstruction, sequential anastomoses were performed in 8, Y-shaped bifurcated grafts were used in 15, and 4-bifurcated grafts were employed in 16 patients. The endovascular stent grafts were deployed via the former femoral incisions in 36 patients and via ascending aortic bifurcated vessels in 3. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was (61 ±22) minutes, the aortic crossclamp time was (48 ±18) minutes, and the post-operative intubation time was (30 ±9) hours. The thoracic drainage from each patient was less than 300 ml in 24 hours. No complication, such as hemiplegia, paraplegia, severe infections, renal failure or coagulation disorder, was observed. The duration of hospitalization was (21 ±6) days. No hospital death occurred. Follow-up was performed 1 to 15 months [mean (8.4 ±7.2) months] postoperatively. All patients survived without any organ dysfunction at follow up. The CTA examination 3 months after operation revealed that the false lumens had been closed in 91.2% of the patients. Conclusion Our findings indicated that the hybrid procedure, which combining ascending aorta replacement,ascending aorta-aortic arch branch vascular bypass reconstruction and endovascular graft exclusion under conventional extracorporeal circulation, may be an option for avoiding the possible complications associated with profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. The novel hybrid operation may improve the surgical outcomes and provide a simplified surgical approach for the treatment of DeBakey Ⅰ aortic dissection.     

Ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm complicated by acute aortic dissection and aortic valve regurgitation; report of a case

An 87-year-old man was found loss of consciousness after falling. He was found in a state of shock. Computed tomography showed rupture of aneurysm of the ascending aorta and aortic arch with acute aortic dissection. Echocardiography revealed aortic valve regurgitation and cardiac tamponade. As the result of emergency operation, a large hematoma in the mediastinum and pleural cavity as well as massive serous pericardial effusion were found. The dissection was seen in aneurysm of the ascending aorta and aortic arch with an intimal tear located in the aortic arch. After aortic valve replacement was performed, the ascending aorta and aortic arch were replaced, and reconstruction of 3 cervical vessel branches was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with selective cerebral perfusion. Despite the complex clinical state and serious condition in the elderly patient, emergency surgery saved the life of the patient without complications.     

T-graft technique under antegrade cerebral perfusion for aortic arch aneurysm

We have devised a T-graft technique for selected extensive aortic arch replacement under antegrade cerebral perfusion. Under hypothermic circulatory arrest using antegrade cerebral perfusion, one graft was island-anastomosed to the supraaortic arteries. The other graft was anastomosed to the descending aorta. Proximal and distal grafts were then end-to-side anastomosed in a T-shape. During rewarming, the ascending aorta and proximal graft were anastomosed. The surgical field was good in the 6 patients included in this report. No perioperative deaths or serious complications were encountered. This procedure was effective for patients with extensive aortic arch aneurysm and relatively intact orifices of the supraaortic arteries.     

Results of aortic valve-sparing operations.

OBJECTIVE: To review the late results of valve-sparing operations in patients with aortic root aneurysm and in those with ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic insufficiency. METHODS: From May 1988 to June 2000, 120 patients with aortic root aneurysm and 68 with ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic insufficiency underwent aortic valve-sparing operations. Patients with aortic root aneurysm were younger, were predominantly male, and had less severe aortic insufficiency than patients with ascending aortic aneurysm, who were older and often had aneurysm of the transverse arch. Forty-eight patients with aortic root aneurysm had the Marfan syndrome. The prevalence of aortic dissection was similar in both groups. Reconstruction of the aortic root was performed by reimplanation of the aortic valve in 64 patients and by remodeling of the aortic root in 56. Patients with ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic insufficiency were treated by replacement of the ascending aorta with reduction in the diameter of the sinotubular junction. Approximately two thirds of the latter patients also required replacement of the transverse aortic arch. The mean follow-up was 35 +/- 31 months for patients with aortic root aneurysm and 26 +/- 23 months for those with ascending aortic aneurysm. RESULTS: There were 2 operative and 5 late deaths in patients with aortic root aneurysm and 1 operative and 9 late deaths in patients with ascending aortic aneurysm. The 5-year survival for patients with aortic root aneurysm was 88% +/- 4% and for patients with ascending aortic aneurysm, 68% +/- 12% (P =.01). Severe aortic insufficiency developed in 2 patients, and they required aortic valve reoperation. The 5-year freedom from aortic valve reoperation was 99% +/- 1% for patients with aortic root aneurysm and 97% +/- 4% for those with ascending aortic aneurysm. Seven patients had moderate aortic insufficiency at the latest echocardiographic study. The 5-year freedom from severe or moderate aortic insufficiency was 90% +/- 4% in patients who had aortic root aneurysm and 98% +/- 2% in those who had ascending aortic aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic valve-sparing operations have provided excellent clinical outcomes and few valve-related complications. The function of the reconstructed aortic root remains unchanged in most patients during the first 5 years of follow-up.     

Surgical treatment of impending rupture of aortic arch aneurysm associated with ischemic heart disease

A 58-year-old man with thoracic aneurysm was admitted because of progressive chest oppression, back pain and the rapidly grown mediastinal mass lesion in his chest X-ray. Aortography and computed tomography revealed impending rupture of saccular aortic arch aneurysm. Emergency operation, consisted of aortic arch replacement under selective cerebral perfusion and CABG with the left IMA, was performed successfully. His postoperative course was uneventful without any neurological deficit. Postoperative angiography demonstrated successful reconstruction of the aortic arch and the patent IMA graft.     

Is extended arch replacement for acute type a aortic dissection an additional risk factor for mortality?

BACKGROUND: We report our experience with surgery for acute type A aortic dissection with involvement of the aortic arch. METHODS: From January 1986 to December 2001, 277 patients underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. In 70 patients (25.3%), surgery was extended into the aortic arch: hemiarch and total arch replacement in 53 (75.7%) and 17 (24.3%) patients, respectively. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 19 patients, antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in 38, and combined deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in 13. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 18.6% (13/70) after extended replacement into the arch versus 21.7% (45/207) after surgery limited to the ascending aorta (p = 0.62). Multivariate analysis did not reveal significant risk factors for operative mortality. Postoperatively, 5 patients (8.1%) had a new postoperative cerebral vascular accident (CVA).Multivariate analysis showed an earlier date of operation as the only independent determinant for a new postoperative CVA (p = 0.0162, RR = 0.80/year, 95% CI = 0.67 to 0.96). None of the patients, operated on with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion, had a new cerebral deficit. Comparing the different methods of cerebral protection, multivariate risk analysis revealed antegrade selective cerebral perfusion as a significant protective factor against new postoperative CVA (p = 0.0110, OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.61). Survival at 5 and 10 years was 66.6.5% and 40.0%, respectively, after replacement of the aortic arch versus 68.7% and 57.7%, respectively, after replacement of the ascending aorta (p = 0.96). Freedom from aortic arch reoperation was 96.3% at 5 and 77.0% at 10 years versus 86.6% and 75.1% in both groups, respectively (p = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Extended replacement into the aortic arch during surgery for acute type A dissection does not influence early and late results. The best cerebral protection seems to be obtained with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion.     

Surgical treatment for aortic aneurysms associated with coronary artery disease-selection of bypass conduit

Graft replacement for arch aneurysms and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were performed in four consecutive patients over a three-year period between March 1995 and October 1998. The etiology of the aneurysms was atherosclerosis in all the patients. One early death as a result of a cerebellar infarction occurred on the 74th postoperative day. In all cases, respiratory failure frequently occurred after surgery. In a recent case, the internal mammary artery was used as a graft conduit to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Both artery and vein grafts were anastomosed to coronary arteries during the initial core cooling. Selective cerebral perfusion was carried out during the reconstruction of the transverse aortic arch and its branches. The left subclavian artery was anastomosed first to secure perfusion to the LAD. To achieve sufficient myocardial protection and obtain good postoperative hemodynamics, CABG was simultaneously performed at the time of aortic aneurysm repair in cases complicated with coronary artery disease.     

Hypothermic circulatory arrest does not increase the risk of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm resection.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of a period of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) during elective replacement of the ascending thoracic aorta. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: DHCA has been implemented in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm resection whenever the anatomy or pathology of the aorta or arch vessels prevents safe or adequate cross-clamping. Profound hypothermia and retrograde cerebral perfusion have been shown to be neurologically protective during ascending aortic replacement under circulatory arrest. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 91 consecutive patients who underwent repair of chronic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms from 1986 to present. The authors hypothesized that patients undergoing DHCA with or without retrograde cerebral perfusion during aneurysm repair were at no greater operative risk than patients who received aneurysm resection while on standard cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in hospital mortality, stroke rate, or operative morbidity between patients repaired on DHCA when compared to those repaired on cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSIONS: DHCA with or without retrograde cerebral perfusion does not result in increased morbidity or mortality during the resection of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms. In fact, this technique may prevent damage to the arch vessels in select cases and avoid the possible complications associated with cross-clamping a friable or atherosclerotic aorta.     

一期次全或全主动脉替换术的临床应用

目的 总结全主动脉替换术治疗全程主动脉瘤及慢性Stanford A型主动脉夹层的临床经验。方法 2004年2月至11月对8例全程主动脉瘤或慢性Stanford A型主动脉夹层的患者施行一期次全（2例）或全主动脉替换术（6例）。其中7例男性,1例女性,年龄23～47岁。病因均为马凡综合征。手术均在全身麻醉深低温停循环顺行性脑灌注下进行。采用左后外胸腹联合切口及胸骨正中切口。手术采用四分支人工血管,先行升主动脉替换或Bentall手术,然后行主动脉弓替换,最后完成胸腹主动脉替换。结果 无手术及住院死亡。1例脑梗死。随访2～12个月,无晚期死亡及再手术病例。结论 一期次全或全主动脉替换术可减少分期手术的痛苦,节约医疗费用,并消除分期手术残余动脉瘤破裂的风险,是治疗全程主动脉瘤及慢性Stanford A型主动脉夹层的有效方法。     

A new off-pump hybrid open and endovascular repair to treat ductus Botalli and ascendens aneurysms

To report a combined ascending aorta and aortic arch hybrid repair, we performed off-pump with no aortic graft replacement. A 65-year-old man, developing progressive recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, underwent a computed tomography (CT) angiography detecting nonpatent residual ductus Botalli aneurysm and ascending aorta aneurysm. Due to severe multimorbidities, a less-invasive alternative was elaborated. In a first step, appropriate proximal landing zone for aortic stent grafting was achieved by ascending aorta diameter reduction, with epiaortic wrapping, and debranching the supra-aortic trunks. In the second step, endovascular stent grafts were deployed from proximal ascending aorta to descending aorta, excluding the ductus Botalli aneurysm. Six-month follow-up CT shows ductus Botalli aneurysm exclusion, stable stent graft position, and ascending diameter and patent and stenosis-free supra-aortic grafts. This case supports this alternative treatment to open aortic repair under circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia, especially in those patients considered unfit for such invasive treatment.     

Use of profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest in complex intra-cardiac repair in adults

Profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest is a well worked out technique for total repair of congenital defects in infants. Recently, it has been popularized for the repair of aneurysms of the transverse aortic arch. We have applied this technique of profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest in three other adult patients in whom conventional techniques would not allow safe and adequate complete repair of acquired intra-cardiac defects. The first patient, a 76-year-old female, had a large chronic ascending aortic aneurysm involving the aortic valve, as well as the innominate and left common carotid arteries. Resuspension of the aortic valve, resection of the ascending aneurysm, and reconstruction of the ascending and transverse aorta were performed under profound circulatory arrest. In addition, multi-dose hypothermic blood K+ cardioplegia was utilized to protect the myocardium. The second patient underwent valve replacement during a period of circulatory arrest because of extensive calcification of the entire ascending aorta and transverse aortic arch. Arrest time was 56 minutes. The third patient was a 54-year-old female and had a large patent ductus arteriosus with a 3:1 left-to-right shunt as well as significant aortic and mitral valve disease. The ductus was closed through an incision in the pulmonary artery during a 13-minute period of profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Aortic valve replacement and mitral repair were also performed at the same time, utilizing conventional techniques. All three patients recovered uneventfully with no evidence of any significant neurologic defect. Long-term follow-up has shown improvement in functional classification in all patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ascending aorta replacement on aortic root dilatation.

OBJECTIVE: Because of an increase of aortic root wall stress, prosthetic replacement of the ascending aorta might be a risk factor for the progressive increase of the aortic root dimension. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the aortic root diameter change and the progression of aortic valve regurgitation late after ascending aorta replacement for different ethiology. METHODS: Sixty-three late survivors after supracoronary ascending aortic replacement were evaluated. Forty-one patients were operated on for acute aortic dissecting aneurysm (group I) and 22 for chronic atherosclerotic non-dissecting aneurysm (group II). Aortic root diameter and aortic valve regurgitation were assessed echocardiografically after a mean follow-up of 63+/-31 months and were compared with those early after surgery. RESULTS: Seven patients of group I (17%) needed reoperation for aortic root dilatation or dissection. Twenty-five percent of the patients (15 of group I and 1 of group II) showed at least a 10% increase in aortic root diameter at follow-up (46.8+/-6.1 vs. 38.1+/-6.1mm, P<0.0001). Aortic root diameter increased almost exclusively in patients operated on for acute dissecting aneurysm. A significant worsening of aortic valve insufficiency with time was evident only in patients operated on for acute dissecting aneurysm with an higher incidence in those with progressive root dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Both the increase of aortic root diameter and the progressive worsening of aortic valve insufficiency seem to justify a more aggressive treatment of the aortic root at the time of surgery for acute aortic dissecting aneurysm but not for chronic atherosclerotic non-dissecting aneurysms.     

Total aortic arch replacement for a patient with poor left ventricular function and patent coronary artery bypass grafts: how to establish effective myocardial protection

A 66-year-old man who had previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was admitted to our institution for surgical treatment of a ruptured aortic arch aneurysm. He had three patent bypassed grafts including the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), complicated by left ventricular dysfunction. Coronary angiography performed 1 year after the initial surgery revealed total occlusion of the LAD. In addition, the aneurysm was located next to the LITA; therefore, there was a significant risk of injury to the LITA during intraoperative dissection. For such a complicated and challenging case, we successfully performed a total aortic arch replacement using a Y-shaped composite saphenous vein graft (SVG) for the administration of cardioplegic solution to establish effective myocardial protection. This procedure, by which effective myocardial protection can be achieved, is a useful treatment option for aortic arch surgery after CABG with a patent LITA graft.