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Aims: The population-based incidence and outcomes of acute aortic dissection (AAD) are still unknown because some patients are already dead on arrival, and the accurate diagnosis of AAD is difficult due to the low autopsy rate. We performed a population-based review of all patients with AAD in a well-defined geographical area in Japan between 2016 and 2018., Methods and Results: Data of all patients with AAD at Miyazaki Prefectural Nobeoka Hospital (MPNH), which performs medical care for 120 000 residents, were collected retrospectively. The emergency medical service is dedicated to the transfer of all patients in this area to the MPNH. For all patients who were dead on arrival, the diagnosis of AAD was made by autopsy imaging (AI) using computed tomography. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality per 100 000 population were calculated using the Japanese population distribution model in 2015. The total incidence of AAD was 79 (type A: 64.5%, n = 51). Of those, 60.8% (31/51) of patients with type A and 21.4% (6/28) with type B were dead on arrival and diagnosed by AI. The 30-day mortality rates were 74.5% (38/51) in type A and 25.0% (7/28) in type B. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality of AAD per 100 000 inhabitants were 17.6 (type A: 11.3, type B: 6.2) and 9.9 (type A: 8.4, type B: 1.5), respectively., Conclusions: The population-based survey of AAD showed that the age-adjusted incidence of AAD was two-fold higher than in previous reports, and the actual mortality rates were markedly higher due to the high incidence of dead-on-arrival., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction caused by sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare observation. We describe a successful case of valve-sparing root replacement using reimplantation technique for RVOT obstruction by a large right coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in a 76-year-old man. In the pathological examination, the elastic fibers of the medial layer were defective not only in the wall of the aneurysmal Valsalva sinus but also in the remaining two sinus walls. Our experience illustrated that valve-sparing root replacement can be an effective procedure in such a case.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of the preserved aortic root after supracoronary aortic replacement for acute type A aortic dissection., Methods: Between October 1999 and March 2018, 339 patients underwent supracoronary aortic replacement for acute type A aortic dissection at our institution. Late outcomes were evaluated, including overall survival, aortic-related death, and aortic root-related reoperation. The median follow-up was 3.7 years (1.4-8.4 years)., Results: Operative mortality was 46 patients (13.6%). The cumulative incidences at 5 years for aortic root-related reoperation, aortic-related death, and non-aortic related death were 2.5%, 14.5% and 12.4%, respectively. Multivariable Cox hazard regression analysis demonstrated greater sinus of Valsalva diameter and number of commissural detachments to be significant risk factors for a composite outcome consisting of aortic-related death or aortic root-related reoperation. Mixed-effects regression demonstrated that sinus of Valsalva diameter significantly increased with time (P < .001), and aortic regurgitation significantly worsened (P < .001)., Conclusions: Sinus of Valsalva diameter and commissural detachment were independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes after supracoronary aortic replacement. Close follow-up is particularly necessary for these patients, and aortic root replacement at the time of initial operation may lead to more favorable late outcomes., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of the downstream aorta following open aortic repair for acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection comparing total arch replacement (TAR) with the elephant trunk (ET) technique versus non-total arch replacement (non-TAR)., Methods: From October 1999 to December 2016, 267 patients underwent open repair for acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. A tear-oriented strategy was mainly used to determine the extent of graft replacement. Hospital mortality was 10.0% (12/120 patients) in the TAR group and 17.0% (25/147 patients) in the non-TAR group (P = 0.070). Late outcomes were compared in 230 hospital survivors (TAR: n = 108 and non-TAR: n = 122). Mean follow-up was 6.5 ± 4.6 years. The aortic diameters were measured at 4 levels, across 6 time points using computed tomography., Results: Freedom from additional aortic surgery for distal dilation was significantly better in the TAR group than the non-TAR group (TAR: 97.5 ± 1.8% at 5 years and non-TAR: 88.2 ± 3.4% at 5 years, P = 0.045). Freedom from a distal aortic event was also significantly better in the TAR group compared with the non-TAR group (TAR: 97.2 ± 1.6% at 5 years and non-TAR: 80.7 ± 4.2% at 5 years, P = 0.013). In the non-TAR group, the aortic arch diameter significantly increased (P < 0.001). Significant aortic remodelling occurred at the proximal descending aorta in the TAR with ET group (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: The TAR with ET reduced the need for additional distal aortic repair compared to non-TAR. TAR with ET prevented unfavourable aortic growth in both the aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

The cases of 3 patients with brain malperfusion secondary to acute aortic dissection who underwent preoperative perfusion of the right common carotid artery are presented. The patients were 64, 65 and 72 years old and 2 were female. All were in a comatose or semi-comatose state with left hemiplegia. The right common carotid artery was exposed and directly cannulated, using a 12-Fr paediatric arterial cannula. The right common femoral artery was chosen for arterial drainage, using a 14-Fr double-lumen cannula. The circuit contained a small roller pump and heat exchanger coil. Target flow was set at 90 ml/min and blood temperature at 30 °C. Durations of right carotid perfusion were 120, 100 and 45 min, respectively. All underwent partial arch replacement and survived. Postoperative neurological sequelae were minimal in all cases., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The management of acute type A aortic dissection complicated by coma remains controversial. We previously reported an excellent rate of recovery of consciousness provided aortic repair was performed within 5 hours of the onset of symptoms. This study evaluates the early and long-term outcomes using this approach., Methods: Between August 2003 and July 2013, of the 241 patients with acute type A aortic dissection brought to the Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital and Hyogo Emergency Medical Center, 30 (12.4%) presented with coma; Glasgow Coma Scale was less than 11 on arrival. Surgery was performed in 186 patients, including 27 (14.5%) who were comatose. Twenty-four comatose patients underwent successful aortic repair immediately (immediate group). Their mean age was 71.0 ± 11.1 years, Glasgow Coma Scale was 6.5 ± 2.4, and prevalence of carotid dissection was 79%. For brain protection, deep hypothermia with antegrade cerebral perfusion was used, and postoperative induced hypothermia was performed. Neurologic evaluations were performed using the Glasgow Coma Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin Scale., Results: In the immediate group, the time from the onset of symptoms to arrival in the operating theater was 222 ± 86 minutes. Hospital mortality was 12.5%. Full recovery of consciousness was achieved in 79% of patients in up to 30 days. Postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improved significantly when compared with the preoperative score (P < .05), and postoperative activities of daily living independence (modified Rankin Scale <3) was achieved in 50% of patients. The mean follow-up period was 56.5 months, and the cumulative survival was 48.2% after 10 years. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that immediate repair (hazard ratio, 4.3; P = .007) was the only significant predictor of postoperative survival over a 5-year period., Conclusions: The early and long-term outcomes as a result of immediate aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by coma were satisfactory., (Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Blunt traumatic abdominal aortic dissection is extremely rare and potentially deadly. We present the case of a 62-year-old man involved in a frontal car crash. After emergency undergoing laparotomy for bowel injuries, he was referred to our hospital due to acute ischemia of bilateral lower extremities on day 3 after the trauma. Computed tomography and aortography showed an aortobiiliac dissection with complete occlusion. This injury was successfully treated by endovascular treatment with "kissing"-technique stent placement, which appears to be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment.

Background: Cardiac tamponade is associated with fatal outcomes for patients with acute type A aortic dissection, and the presence of cardiac tamponade should prompt urgent aortic repair. However, treatment of the patient with critical cardiac tamponade who cannot survive until surgery remains unclear. We analyzed our experience of controlled pericardial drainage (CPD) managing critical cardiac tamponade., Methods and Results: Between September 2003 and May 2011, 175 patients with acute type A aortic dissection were treated surgically, including 43 (24.6%) who presented with cardiac tamponade on arrival. Eighteen patients, who did not respond to intravenous volume resuscitation, underwent CPD in the emergency department. An 8F pigtail drainage catheter was inserted percutaneously, and drainage volume was controlled by means of several cycles of intermittent drainage to maintain blood pressure at ≈90 mm Hg. After CPD, all of the patients were transferred to the operating room, and immediate aortic repair was performed. Systolic blood pressure before CPD was 64.3 ± 8.2 mm Hg and elevated significantly in all of the cases after CPD. Systolic blood pressure after CPD was 94.8 ± 10.5 mm Hg, and increase in systolic pressure was 30.5 ± 11.7 mm Hg. Total volume of aspirated pericardial effusion was 40.1 ± 30.6 mL, and 10 patients required only ≤30-mL aspiration volume. All of the patients underwent aortic repair successfully. In-hospital mortality was 16.7%; however, there was no complications or mortality related to CPD., Conclusions: Preoperative pericardial drainage with control of volume is a safe and effective procedure for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by critical cardiac tamponade. In our patient population, timely controlled pericardial drainage is warranted.

Background: Surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion remains challenging. This study evaluated predictors of lack of neurologic improvement after aortic repair for acute type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion and assessed relationship with survival., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 41 consecutive patients operated on between 1999 and 2008 for acute type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion. Lack of postoperative neurologic improvement was defined as a difference between baseline and postoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores of 3 points or less., Results: Lack of neurologic improvement was seen in 15 patients (37%). Logistic regression analysis, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 6.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-32.4; P = .02), and time to surgery (odds ratio, 14.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.7-8.5; P = .002) were significantly associated with lack of neurologic improvement. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score greater than 11 and time to surgery longer than 9.1 hours were best cutoffs for predicting lack of neurologic improvement. Thirty-day mortality was 14.6%. All early deaths were caused by large hemispheric infarction. Postoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral infarction in 21 patients (51%). Five-year survival was significantly lower in patients without neurologic improvement (33% ± 12% vs 84% ± 7%, log-rank P <.001)., Conclusions: Time to surgery and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score were predictors of lack of improvement, which was associated with poor survival., (Copyright © 2011 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Management of acute type A aortic dissection (AADA) complicated by coma remains controversial. We analyzed our experience in managing AADA complicated by coma to determine the relationship of duration of preoperative coma to postoperative neurological recovery., Methods and Results: Between September 2003 and October 2010, 181 patients with AADA were treated, including 27 presenting with coma (Glasgow Coma Scale <11) on arrival. Twenty-one patients were repaired immediately (immediate group); time from onset of symptoms to operating room was <5 hours. For brain protection, deep hypothermia with antegrade cerebral perfusion was used, and postoperative therapeutic hypothermia with magnesium treatment was performed. Six patients initially were managed medically, and 3 of them were followed by eventual repair because time from onset was >5 hours (delayed group). The preoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 31.4 ± 6.6 in the immediate group and 28.3 ± 9.5 in the delayed group. Hospital mortality was 14% in the immediate group and 67% in the delayed group. Full recovery of consciousness was achieved in 86% of patients in the immediate group and in 17% in the delayed group. In immediate group, the postoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score significantly improved to 6.4 ± 8.4, cumulative survival rate was 71.8% in 3 years, and independence in daily activities was achieved in 52% (11/21)., Conclusions: Aortic repair, if performed immediately from the onset of symptoms, showed satisfactory recovery of consciousness and neurological function in patients with AADA complicated by coma. In this patient population, immediate aortic repair is warranted.

A 59-year-old woman had undergone total arch replacement, followed by the mediastinal omental flap installation because of postoperative mediastinitis. One year later, she was diagnosed with annuloaortic ectasia with mitral regurgitation and underwent aortic root replacement (modified Bentall procedure) plus mitral valve annuloplasty through the right anterolateral thoracotomy. Her postoperative course was uneventful. The approach could be an alternative for the aortic root replacement in patients with previous median sternal wound complications.

'Anastomotic leak' after ascending aortic replacement for acute aortic dissection, which is determined as direct forward blood flow into the false lumen at the distal anastomosis, prevents the false lumen from being thrombosed. The aim of this study is to determine whether the leak influences on residual aortic growth. Between October 1999 and May 2006, 100 patients presenting for acute type A aortic dissection underwent surgery at our institution. Among the population, 34 patients who underwent ascending aortic replacement and have been followed by computed tomography (CT) for over 6 months were reviewed. On the follow-up CT, maximum diameter of aortic arch and descending aorta were measured and the presence of anastomotic leak was determined. The growth rates of aortic arch and descending aorta in patients diagnosed as having anastomotic leak were greater than patients not having leak (P=0.003, P<0.001, respectively). Initial maximum diameter just after ascending aortic replacement was greater in patients with anastomotic leak than without anastomotic leak in aortic arch and descending aorta (P=0.013, P=0.06). Anastomotic leak after ascending aortic replacement for acute type A aortic dissection contributed to remnant aortic growth. More sophisticated method for reapproximation of dissected aorta should be dictated.

Brain malperfusion caused by acute type A aortic dissection is a life threatening situation that should be relieved as early as possible with minimal reperfusion injury prior to aortic repair. The patient was 72-year-old woman with acute type A aortic dissection. She was referred to us 2.5 hours after onset of chest pain, and she was unconscious with a complete left paralysis. The true lumen of internal carotid artery was severely stenosed. A simple bypass circuit was installed from the femoral artery to the true lumen of the right common carotid artery, which consisted with a roller pump and cold bath for blood cooling. Regional oxygen saturation of the right frontal brain was immediately raised after initiation of the bypass, and she underwent emergency ascending hemi-arch replacement. The postoperative course was complicated with a right brain stroke; however, brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging disclosed minimum brain edema. She was discharged on foot on the 35th postoperative day, and she was walking with a stick after 7 months.

Objective: The objective of our study was to retrospectively assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for branch stenosis or obstruction after branched graft replacement in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm or aortic arch aneurysm., Materials and Methods: Seven patients (all men; median age, 62 years; age range, 19-79 years) who had undergone aortic surgery using branched grafts between March 2004 and January 2007 were treated. Diagnosis was established on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT or angiography. A self- or balloon-expandable stent was placed after predilatation with a balloon catheter and, if necessary, thrombolysis was also performed. Stent patency was assessed on thin-slice axial images obtained during the arterial phase on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT., Results: Seven lesions (one celiac artery, two left subclavian arteries, and four renal arteries) were treated. The time between the surgery and treatment was 0-3 days for patients with abdominal lesions and 20-41 days for those with thoracic lesions. Stent placement was successful in five of the seven patients. In one patient, insertion of the stent delivery system was unsuccessful; in the other patient, the stent was not completely expanded. The clinical symptoms and abnormal laboratory data improved in all patients with successful procedures. No restenosis was observed on imaging follow-up, with a median patency of 104 days (range, 5-1,218 days) during clinical follow-up (range, 37-1,218 days; median, 135 days)., Conclusion: Endovascular repair can be an alternative treatment for visceral vessel complications of branched grafts, especially in obstructed but peripherally patent branches.

A 36-year-old man, who was referred for severe chest pains, was found to have acute type II aortic dissection associated with a dilated ascending aorta, aortic coarctation, and congenitally bicuspid valve. A single-stage surgical repair consisting of valve-sparing aortic root implantation and graft replacement of the ascending aorta, arch, and the coarctation segment was successful.

Hypothesis: Therapeutic strategies for patients who require procedures for both cardiac or aortic diseases and gastric cancer are controversial. Prognostic factors for them should be clearly identified., Design: Retrospective review of 14 patients who underwent surgical intervention for both gastric cancer and cardiac or aortic diseases between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2004., Setting: Tertiary referral university hospital., Patients: Cardiac and aortic diseases included coronary artery disease in 5 patients, thoracic aortic aneurysms in 3 patients, and abdominal aortic aneurysms in 6 patients. Coronary artery bypass graftings were performed with an off-pump procedure, and aneurysms were replaced with prosthetic grafts in all of the cases. The surgical stages of gastric cancers were stage I in 8 patients, stage II in 2 patients, stage III in 3 patients, and stage IV in 1 patient. According to our original therapeutic strategies, 4 patients underwent simultaneous procedures and 10 received staged procedures., Main Outcome Measure: Overall survival rates., Results: There was 1 hospital death caused by multiple organ failure. No prosthetic graft infection was noted. Thirteen patients were discharged, and 3 died of cancer recurrence during an average follow-up period of 26.3 months. The cumulative survival rate was 76.6% at 1 year and 68.1% at 3 years. One-year survival rates were 90.0% in stages I and II gastric cancer and 50.0% in stages III and IV gastric cancer., Conclusion: Prognosis of patients who underwent surgical intervention for both gastric cancer and cardiac or aortic diseases was mainly limited by the clinical stage of gastric cancer.

Background: In patients with acute type A aortic dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion, the surgical treatment remains challenging. This retrospective study reports the results of surgical interventions and the clinical features of these patients., Methods: From 1999 to 2004, 63 patients underwent surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection. Sixteen patients (25.3%) showed preoperative newly developed neurologic deficits (cerebral malperfusion). In patients with cerebral malperfusion, the characteristics, neurologic symptoms, computed tomography findings, interval from onset to operation, and operative details (procedure, arterial cannulation site, method of brain protection) were reviewed., Results: The hospital mortality rate was 43.7% (7 of 16 patients) for the cerebral malperfusion group and 17.0% (8 of 47 patients) for the noncerebral malperfusion group (all patients, 23.8%). Multivariate analysis showed preoperative cerebral malperfusion as the sole risk factor for hospital mortality. Six patients, including all patients in a preoperative coma, died of severe brain damage within 1 month after surgery. Most patients were diagnosed with right hemispheric cerebral infarction by postoperative brain computed tomography. The operative details and the time interval from onset to operation were not significant predictors of death. The cumulative survival rate at 4 years was 75.5% in patients without cerebral malperfusion and 50.1% with cerebral malperfusion (p = 0.091)., Conclusions: The results of surgical treatment for acute type A dissection complicated with cerebral malperfusion demonstrated high hospital mortality, but the long-term survival was similar to patients without cerebral malperfusion, with an acceptable neurologic outcome, excluding preoperative coma patients. Appropriate protection of ischemic brain tissue should be implemented to improve the surgical results in these patients.

A 23-year-old man was admitted for an aortic root aneurysm with mild aortic valve regurgitation (AR) and a small pressure gradient. At surgery, findings of aortic valve, one normal left posterior commissure and very rudimentary right anterior commissure, was compatible with the uni-commisural aortic valve. Aortic root replacement with valve-sparing technique was performed. Four years later no residual AR was observed.

A 65-year-old male with four-channel aortic dissection successfully underwent replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta, reconstruction of the celiac, superior mesenteric artery, renal arteries, and 5 pairs of intercostals or lumbar arteries using deep hypothermic technique.

Spinal cord ischemia resulting in postoperative paraplegia is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and has been attributed to many causes. To prevent spinal cord compartment syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid drainage has been used as an adjunct to thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, with procedure-related complications generally occurring infrequently. We present two case reports of serious complications from CSF drainage.

In patients with Marfan syndrome, pregnancy is associated with a potential higher risk of aortic dissection. To determine the incidence and characteristics of aortic dissection in pregnancy, clinical courses of 8 patients with Marfan syndrome were reviewed. Aortic dissection occurred in 3 patients, one of whom had developed rapid dilatation of the ascending aorta during pregnancy. The patient underwent Bentall operation subsequent to cesarean section and simple hysterectomy. All patients tolerated pregnancy well, with favorable maternal and fetal outcomes. Follow-up echocardiography showed no apparent worsening of cardiovascular status attributable to pregnancy such as aortic dilatation and aortic regurgitation except for one patient. Dilatation of the ascending aorta during pregnancy is considered to be an important predictor for aortic dissection. Close observation should be mandatory in such patients. In patients with serious cardiovascular involvement such as acute aortic dissection, cesarean section is preferable for delivery. To prevent hemorrhagic complications under systemic heparinization, simultaneous hysterectomy should be considered as one option.

Objective: Three-channeled aortic dissection with 2 adjacent false lumens present is rare., Methods: The 31 patients whose dissections we treated surgically accounted for 7.3% of the 426 patients with aortic dissection treated surgically between 1978 and May 1999. The 17 men and 14 women ranged in age from 24 to 77 years (mean: 45 +/- 12 years). Marfan syndrome was present in 18. Pain was observed at different times in 20. computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance image proved useful in preoperative diagnosis. The morphology of the 1st and 2nd false lumens was Stanford type A + B in 13, type B + B in 15, type A + A in 2, and localized abdominal dissection in 1., Results: Descending aortic replacement was done in 18 patients, thoracoabdominal aortic replacement in 7, ascending aortic replacement in 3, and others in 3. Five patients died in hospital and later during follow-up for 1-181 months (mean, 57 +/- 55 months)., Conclusions: Pain recurring in patients with aortic dissection should alert the physician to the possibility of 3-channeled dissection and the necessity of surgery. The incidence of such dissection is high in patients with Marfan syndrome.

Because complication by aortic dissection is markedly rare in patients with Takayasu's arteritis, a limited number of reports have been published regarding surgically treated cases of Takayasu's arteritis that is complicated by aortic dissection. When graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch and extra-anatomic bypass grafting were performed in a 72-year-old japanese woman with Takayasu's arteritis, which was complicated by aortic dissections localized in the ascending and abdominal aortae, the postoperative course of this patient was satisfactory. It was considered that the media became friable in this patient because of the presence of Takayasu's arteritis and that hypertension that persisted for a long time caused the independent development of aortic dissections in the ascending and abdominal aortae.

A case of transmural ischemic necrosis of the esophagus secondary to aortic dissection is presented. A 66-year-old woman with acute type A aortic dissection underwent total arch replacement with a technique of deep hypothermic arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion. Postoperatively she had hematemesis, and endoscopic examination revealed circumferential mucosal necrosis and desquamation of the lower esophagus. She died of multiple organ failure on postoperative day 74. Autopsy demonstrated transmural necrosis of the esophagus secondary to ischemia. Ischemia of the esophagus secondary to aortic dissection is extremely rare.

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.

A 38-year-old man presented with 2 months' history of a hoarseness and aphthous stomatitis. Image diagnosis showed that he had saccular-type aneurysms of the aortic arch, right subclavian artery, and infrarenal abdominal aorta. Simultaneous total arch replacement, including reconstruction of the right subclavian artery and replacement of the infrarenal abdominal aorta, was performed. Pathologic specimen of each aneurysmal wall revealed that intima and the majority of the medial layer were absent. Chronic inflammatory process was detected in the adventitia that was compatible with diagnosis of Behçet's disease.

Background: In surgical intervention for aortic dissection, a highly radical operation can be performed by distal anastomosis with a true lumen resulting in thrombotic closure of the dissecting lumen. In this anastomosis, the elephant trunk procedure, in which a graft is inserted into the distal true lumen, prevents blood flow leakage into the dissecting lumen at the anastomosis site and also strengthens this area., Methods: We performed this procedure in 15 patients (8 men and 7 women). Acute aortic dissection was observed in 9 patients and chronic dissection in 6. Stanford type A dissection was diagnosed in 10 patients and type B in 5., Results: Graft replacement of the ascending aorta and total aortic arch was performed in 10 patients and descending aortic replacement in 5. A graft with a diameter of 16 to 24 mm was inserted into the true lumen of the descending aorta, and the false lumen was closed. Subsequently, distal anastomosis was performed on the true lumen. There were two hospital deaths. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed good results in living patients, and computed tomographic scanning showed thrombotic closure in the dissecting lumen of the descending aorta., Conclusions: The elephant trunk procedure is useful for closing the false lumen of the distal aorta.

Background: Coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were compared between two strategies of heparinization during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients who underwent aortic surgery with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and retrograde cerebral perfusion (RGCP) with aprotinin., Methods and Results: From January 1994 to January 1996, 94 patients underwent aortic surgery with DHCA with aprotinin; replacement of the ascending aorta took place in 14 patients, arch in 69, and descending aorta in 11. Two million units of aprotinin was administrated in the priming of CPB, and 3 mg/kg heparin was given before CPB. During CPB, 49 patients had an additional 1 mg/kg/h heparin regardless of activated clotting time (ACT) [group A], whereas 45 patients had an additional 1 mg/kg/h heparin when ACT was less than 500 seconds [group B]. ACT, PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, AT-3, plasminogen, alpha2-PI (plasmin inhibitor), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), DD (D dimer), TAT (thrombin-antithrombin complex), PIC (plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex), beta-TG (thromboglobulin), and PF-4 (platelet factor-4) were assayed. No difference was detected between the two groups regarding the duration of operation, CPB, aortic cross-clamping, DHCA, RGCP, and time from the end of CPB to admission to ICU. The heparin dose was greater in group A, but the protamine dose was similar. There was no difference in bleeding after perfusion or in ICU. Levels of TAT, fibrinogen, and DD were lower in group A. PIC, alpha-PI, and FDP value showed no difference. PF-4 and beta-TG were lower in group A, and the platelet count at the end of operation and the day after the operation was higher in group A., Conclusions: Platelets were better preserved and activation of the coagulation system during CPB was less severe in patients who had a regular additional constant heparin regimen irrespective of ACT in surgery for the aortic aneurysm with DHCA and aprotinin usage. An accurate monitoring system for heparinization is necessary to maintain appropriate anticoagulation during CPB in patients who are undergoing aortic surgery with DHCA using aprotinin.

We describe a new application of the "elephant trunk" procedure for repairing aortic dissection. The false lumen of the distal aorta is obliterated between an external sheath of Teflon felt and an internal Dacron graft used as the "elephant trunk". This simple technique makes possible secure anastomosis with the distal friable tissue, and prevents suture hole leaks.

Background: The perioperative blood coagulation and fibrinolysis system in patients who underwent aortic surgery under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with or without aprotinin usage was investigated., Methods and Results: Of 112 patients who underwent aortic surgery between December 1993 and April 1995, 60 had repair under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Thirty-nine patients had 2 million U aprotinin in pump priming and had no additional aprotinin. There were 20 patients with aortic dissections and 17 with atherosclerotic aneurysms. Twenty-two patients had left thoracotomy, and 17 had midsternotomy. Surgery consisted of replacement of the ascending aorta in 9 patients, total arch replacement in 11, distal arch replacement in 11, replacement of the descending aorta in 3, and replacement of thoracoabdominal aorta in 5. The control group was 21 patients who underwent operation under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion but without aprotinin. Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis tests, consisting of activated clotting time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, plasminogen, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, thrombin-antithrombin complex, plasmin inhibitor complex, fibrin degenerative products, and D-dimer complex, were performed at various stages of surgery, before heparin administration, after heparin, 60 minutes and 120 minutes after beginning of the extracorporeal circulation, 1 hour after protamine administration, and 6 hours after protamine. Statistical analysis was performed with Student's t test, chi 2 test, and ANOVA. The amount of bleeding after perfusion was less in the aprotinin group, and bleeding during first 24 hours in the intensive care unit was less. Blood examination revealed that prothrombin time was higher after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass in the aprotinin group. Thrombin-antithrombin III complex and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor were higher during and after bypass in the aprotinin group. There was no difference in activated clotting time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, plasminogen, plasmin inhibitor complex, fibrin degenerative products, and D-dimer complex., Conclusions: Clinical advantages of hemostatic effects of low-dose aprotinin and no apparent deleterious effects were demonstrated in patients who underwent aortic surgery under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. However, blood coagulation and fibrinolytic studies revealed subclinical hypercoagulation. Therefore, and adequate dose of heparin is required during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Two cases of acute type A aortic dissection after replacement of descending thoracic aorta for type B dissection were reported. One case involved a 75-year-old male who had hypertension. The second case involved a 33-year-old female with a familial history of thoracic aneurysms. Both patients underwent simultaneous graft replacement of the ascending aorta and total aortic arch using selective perfusion to the brain. Both patients survived the operations, and the postoperative courses were satisfactory. Acute type A dissection after replacement of descending thoracic aorta for type B dissection is rare, and careful and long-term follow-up is needed for the patients.

The patient was a 48-year-old man who was brought to our hospital complaining of chest pain, paresthesia of the lower extremities, and pain in the lumbar region. At first, acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed, but transthoracic echocardiogram revealed an intimal flap in the ascending aorta. The presence of an intimal tear below the left subclavian artery was confirmed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, and a diagnosis of myocardial infarction accompanying type IIIb aortic dissection with retrograde extension to the ascending aorta was made. Coronary artery bypass grafting to segment #2 using a section of saphenous vein and total aortic arch replacement with "elephant trunk" technique, which concurrently served as a means of amputated stump plasty, was performed. The cerebral circulation was preserved by retrograde cerebral circulation. The post operative progress was good, and thrombo-occlusion of the false lumens of the proximal descending aorta was verified. Type IIIb aortic dissection complicated with myocardial infarction is rare, but examination with both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms were useful for the morphological diagnosis and for determining the surgical technique for the dissection.

A giant aneurysm in the right sinus of Valsalva compressed the right coronary artery and caused angina pectoris in a 44-year-old man. Surgical correction consisted of obliterating the orifice of the aneurysm with a Dacron patch and relocating the right coronary artery. Postoperative angiography demonstrated excellent results. Pathological study demonstrated the absence of normal elastic fibers in the media of the aneurysm.

Between December 1978 and March 1994, 48 of 312 patients who underwent surgery for aortic dissection were diagnosed with major vascular complications. There were 18 patients with type A dissection and 30 patients with type B. In 23 patients with acute dissection, the site of vascular obstruction was the abdominal aorta in 12 patients, brachiocephalic artery in 7, iliac artery in 4, left common carotid artery in 3 and thoracic aorta in 2. In 26 patients with chronic dissection, the site of vascular obstruction was the abdominal aorta in 13 patients, brachiocephalic artery in 10, renal artery in 5, iliac artery in 4, superior mesenteric artery in 2, left common carotid artery in 2 and celiac artery in 1. Fifteen patients underwent proximal repair of the aorta during the acute stage, including the ascending aorta in 6 patients, from ascending aorta to arch in 7, arch to descending aorta in 1, thoracoabdominal aorta in 1, and entry closure in 1. In the acute stage, eight patients had palliative surgery, including aortic fenestration in four patients, axillo-femoral bypass in two, cross-over bypass to the iliac or femoral artery in one, bypass to superior mesenteric artery in one, bypass to the renal artery in one, and ileum resection in one. During the chronic phase, seven patients with type B dissection, who had malperfused unilateral renal artery, underwent proximal aortic repair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

From 1987 to February 1991, we have repaired or replaced the aortic arch in ten patients using deep hypothermic systemic circulatory arrest with continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion (CRCP). CRCP can be implemented using the bypass connecting the arterial and venous lines of the extracorporeal circuit to reverse the flow into the superior vena cava cannula after induction of circulatory arrest. CRCP flow required to maintain an internal jugular vein pressure of 20 mmHg ranged from 100 to 500 ml/min. After completion of suturing of the aortic arch graft, air is evacuated retrogradely from the open arch vessels prior to reestablishing the usual arterial return. Two patients died, one from sepsis and the other from liver cirrhosis 1 month postoperatively. CRCP times ranged from 11 to 56 min, and minimal nasopharyngeal temperatures ranged from 16 degrees to 18 degrees C. The difference in oxygen content between the perfused blood and the blood draining from the arch vessels during CRCP most likely reflected the steady-state metabolism of the brain during the deep hypothermic state. This technique offers advantages including the need for dissecting and clamping the arch branches, providing sufficient metabolic support to the brain during deep hypothermia, and eliminating embolism of particulate debris from the aortic arch.

Recently we replaced the ascending aorta and aortic arch in 8 patients with aneurysm or dissection, using profound hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. There were no operative deaths. Open aortic anastomosis facilitated repair of the aortic arch without clamping the arch tributaries, and embolism due to particulate debris from clamping of the arch vessels was eliminated. Retrograde cerebral perfusion during profound hypothermic circulatory arrest is a simplified technique that may protect the brain. This method offers advantages over previously described methods, particularly in obviating dissection of the arch tributaries and the clamping thereof, and in protecting the central nervous system.

A 54-year-old woman complained of shortness of breath. She was diagnosed to have an aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus and underwent a radical operation. The aneurysm had a diameter of 10 cm. Superior vena cava, right atrium, and right ventricle were severely compressed and deformed. The non-coronary sinus and ascending aorta were reconstructed with a 24 mm Dacron graft using the graft inclusion technique. The ostiums of both coronary arteries were skirted. The postoperative course was uneventful.