A successful emergency surgical treatment of DeBakey type I dissecting aneurysm complicated with cardiac tamponade and bleeding shock]

A successful emergency replacement of the ruptured ascending thoracic aorta by means of ringed Dacron tube graft for 69-year-old male was presented, who had been admitted to our hospital with deep cyanosis and shock. He had experienced severe chest pain one hour prior to admission followed by mental confusion and was brought by ambulant service. Emergency chest enhanced computed tomography showed a clear ruptured dissecting aneurysm (DeBakey Type I) with complicated with pericardial tamponade. Soon after this admission he developed bradycardia with hypotension and quickly went into shock. After induction of anesthesia, cardiac arrest developed. External cardiac massage was started at the same time. Partial cardiopulmonary bypass using femoral vein to artery bypass with the membrane oxygenator was instituted and the body was cooled until moderate hypothermia (25 degrees C). The pericardium was opened and blood clot was removed. The ascending aorta ruptured which was replaced with ringed Dacron tube graft (24 mm in diameter). Patient tolerated procedure well and made good postoperative recovery with temporally mild mental confusion. He discharged 2 months after the surgery without any neurological or mental complication. He has been followed up for six months in excellent condition.