Pseudoaneurysm of ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement

A pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is an unusual and potentially fatal complication after aortic surgical procedures. A contrast computed tomographic scan is the investigation of choice. Surgical treatment is mandatory. We describe the successful management of a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta by instituting femorofemoral bypass and achieving hypothermic circulatory arrest, which provided safe reentry and prevented an impending rupture.     

Composite graft replacement of ascending aorta and aortic valve

Composite graft-valve replacement of the ascending aorta was performed in 18 patients over a 4-year-period. Sixteen (88.89%) patients were male and 2(11.11%) were female. Seven (38.88%) had dissection of aorta and 11 (61.12%) had annuloaortic ectasia. All patients had moderate to severe aortic incompetence. Aortic arch replacement was required in three patients in addition to ascending aorta replacement. Coronary artery implantation was done by the Cabrol technique in 12 (66.67%) patients and by the Bentall technique in 6(33.33%) patients. There was no hospital mortality. One patient died one year after surgery. Two (11.11%) required reexploration for bleeding. None of the patients required reoperation at a mean follow up of 29 months.     

Composite stentless valve with graft extension for combined replacement of the aortic valve, root and ascending aorta.

OBJECTIVE: The composite mechanical valve conduit has been most commonly used for patients who require combined aortic valve, root, and ascending aorta replacement, but is limited, especially in the elderly, because of the need for long-term anticoagulation. We report the first consecutive series of patients in whom a composite stentless valve with graft extension, which does not require long-term anticoagulation, was performed. METHODS: Between April 1998 and July 2000, eight patients with severe aortic root and ascending aortic pathology underwent a combined aortic valve, root, and ascending aorta replacement with a Freestyle stentless porcine valve with a Hemashield graft extension. Mean age was 74 (range 56--82), three were males. Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) alone (n=2), mitral valve replacement with atrial septal defect repair (n=1) and CABG with septal myomectomy (n=1). RESULTS: Operative mortality was zero. Median aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 150 and 203 min, respectively. Two patients returned to the operating room for bleeding. Median blood transfusions and hospital length of stay were 4 units and 11 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The composite stentless valve with graft extension is a reasonable alternative to a mechanical valve conduit for patients who require a combined aortic valve, root, and ascending aorta replacement, in whom anticoagulation is not desirable or contraindicated.     

Impact of ascending aorta replacement combined with a Ross procedure on autograft root distensibility and function in patients with combined pathology of the aortic valve and ascending aorta

In this study we aimed to assess the autograft root dimensions, distensibility, and autograft valve function in patients after Ross operation combined with replacement of the ascending aorta compared to patients that underwent Ross operation only. Forty patients received a Ross operation, and in 12 of them an additional replacement of the ascending aorta was performed. Autograft root dimensions, distensibility, and valve function were assessed by echocardiography. There were no differences in root size, distensibility, and valve function between groups. Our preliminary results indicate that replacement of the ascending aorta with a noncompliant prosthesis has no effect on the autograft root.     

Eleven-year experience with composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve

Between September, 1974, and December, 1985, 127 patients had replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with a composite graft. Annuloaortic ectasia was the most common indication for operation (69 patients), followed by aortic dissection (51 patients). Twenty-four patients (19%) had the Marfan syndrome. Hospital mortality was 4.7%. Emergent operation for acute dissection was the only independent predictor of hospital death (p = 0.03). Reoperation for postoperative hemorrhage was required in 15 patients (11.8%) and for prosthesis-related complications (pseudoaneurysm, prosthetic endocarditis, technical problems, and valve thrombosis) in 16 patients (12.6%). Since we adopted a technique of preclotting the prosthesis with whole blood or albumin plus autoclaving and abandoned the inclusion technique, the reoperation rate has declined substantially. At 5 years, the actuarial freedom from reoperation for any reason on the ascending aorta or aortic valve for the 24 patients in whom this modification was used was 90% and for the remaining 103 patients, 73% (p = 0.17). No reoperations for pseudoaneurysms or technical problems were required in these 24 patients, whereas 10 reoperations for these complications were necessary in the other patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 54 months. The actuarial survival rate at 7 years for the entire group was 65%; for the patients with annuloaortic ectasia, 70%; for those with aortic dissection, 61%; for the patients with the Marfan syndrome, 57%. Actuarial freedom from operation on the remainder of the aorta at 7 years was 89%, but it was 78% for the subgroup with the Marfan syndrome. The satisfactory results with extended follow-up support the continued use of the composite graft technique as the preferred method of treatment for patients with annuloaortic ectasia or recurrent aneurysms of the sinuses of Valsalva and for patients with aortic dissection who require aortic valve replacement.     

Surgical treatment of ascending aorta aneurysm combined with aortic valve insufficiency

The article deals with the immediate and late-term results of surgical management of aneurysm of the ascending aorta with aortic incompetence in 33 patients, on whom 34 operations were conducted. The etiology, diagnosis of the disease, and the main moments of the surgical techniques are discussed. For the solution of surgical problems, setting apart patients with dyshistogenetic predisposition is suggested. Among the instrumental methods of examination preference was given to radiocontrast aortography and magneto-resonance tomography. The last named is preferable because it is noninvasive, highly informative, and specific. The choice of the method was determined by the existence of stratification and the level of the orifices of the coronary arteries above the fibrous ring. The conduit was wrapped in the remnants of the aneurysmatic sac in all cases; the approach to the formation of the communication between the last named and the right atrium was differentiated. The central moment of the reconstruction is the formation of the distal anastomosis of the conduit with the aorta in stratification. In the late-term postoperative periods particular attention was paid to patients with dyshistogenetic predisposition because of the possible spreading of stratification to the distal parts of the aorta.     

Repair of a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement

An elderly woman underwent an aortic valve replacement and 5 months later developed a pseudoaneurysm from the anterior aspect of the proximal ascending aorta (AA). The pseudoaneurysm was approached through a redo-median sternotomy, on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), mild hypothermia, and a beating heart, with a temporary fingertip occlusion of its ostium, and repaired successfully using mattress monofilament sutures enforced by pledgets. The standard approach to such pseudoaneurysms is a CPB and hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) prior to mid-sternotomy, and replacement of the AA. But, when a pseudoaneurysm arises from a narrow ostium on the anterior aspect of the AA, as in this case, it can be sutured closed with pledgets under CPB with a mild hypothermia and a beating heart.     

Safe wrapping of the borderline dilated ascending aorta during aortic valve replacement

Background  

Techniques of reduction aortoplasty are widely published in the literature with conflicting results. External support seems to be an important factor in preventing recurrence but, in some cases, this technique caused erosion of the aorta because of the wrinkles the prosthesis creates in the rear side of the aorta.     

升主动脉置换术或成形术治疗主动脉瓣病变合并的升主动脉瘤样扩张

目的 对比分析主动脉瓣病变合并升主动脉瘤扩张在行主动脉瓣置换术(AVR)的同时施行升主动脉置换术(A组)或成形术(B组)的结果,探讨两种方法的临床效果及适应证.方法 A、B两组术前年龄、性别、心功能分级、主动脉瓣病变、左室射血分数等差异均无统计学意义.A组主动脉直径(49.45±3.96)mm,B组(49.31±3.68)mm,差异亦无统计学意义.行AVR后A组常规置换升主动脉,B组纵行切除部分升主动脉壁,缝合后包裹28～30 mm人工血管.结果 A、B两组术后均无死亡.A组主动脉阻断(71.70±17.13)min、体外循环(110.52±27.51)min,均明显大于B组的(57.13±16.32)min(P=0.025)和(97.31±19.46)min(P=0.004).两组术中及术后输血量、并发症发生率差异无统计学意义.结论 主动脉瓣病变合并升主动脉瘤样扩张,年轻病人主动脉直径≥40 mm时应积极手术处理扩张的升主动脉.升主动脉成形术,同时外包裹人工血管的方法较升主动脉置换术更为简单、安全,但升主动脉壁必须无粥样硬化或溃疡.     

Aneurysms of the ascending aorta with aortic valve incompetence

Twelve out of 14 patients with aneurysm of the proximal ascending aorta (AA) combined with aortic valve incompetence (AI) were operated upon by replacement of both the aneurysm and valves by prostheses. Eight of the patients operated on (67%) survived and are living free of symptoms 3 months to 3 years after operation. The operative technique and complications are discussed.     

Sinus of Valsalva dilatation after replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve

A 52-year-old woman, height, 149 cm; weight, 40 kg, was admitted because of anterior chest discomfort and palpitations. There was no family history of Marfan syndrome. She had undergone replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve 10 years prior for DeBakey II aortic dissection. Postoperative pathological examination of the resected aortic wall revealed cystic medionecrosis. Computed tomography(CT) 4 years after the surgery showed moderate enlargement of the preserved sinuses of Valsalva, and CT 10 years after the surgery showed enlargement of the sinus. She consented to a reoperation. The prostheses were explanted, and the aortic root was replaced with a composite graft. The right coronary artery ostium was completely closed, and no graftable portions of the distal right coronary artery were detected. Thus, the left coronary artery alone was reimplanted. The patient required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 10 days postoperatively, after which she recovered fully without complications. This case may indicate that the complete aortic root should be replaced during initial surgery of the ascending aorta or aortic valve in patients with potential risk of sinus of Valsalva dilatation.     

Dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta occurring late after aortic valve replacement.

In 4 patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement, a dissection of the ascending aorta appeared between 7 and 16 years later (mean 12 years). This is a rare complication, occurring in less than one percent of cases. Three cases of aortic regurgitation and one of aortic stenosis developed, and 3 of the cases had dilatation of the ascending aorta and hypertension. The symptoms of dissection were accompanied by signs of either the superior vena caval syndrome or compression of the pulmonary artery. The diagnosis was confirmed by echography and by CT scan. Despite the advances made in the surgery of dissection the prognosis was serious, and 2 of the 4 patients died. Avoidance of this complication depends on replacement of the ascending aorta (composite tube or supracoronary graft according to the involvement of the sinuses of Valsalva) as soon as the diameter of aorta exceeds 55 mm. In cases of moderate dilatation (45-50 mm), systemic reinforcement with Dacron mesh has been shown to have long-term effectiveness.