The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 28, 151-157, Copyright © 1979 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Surgical repair of dissection of the upper descending thoracic aorta and discrete ascending aortic aneurysm
GV Parr and NT Kouchoukos
This report describes successful staged surgical repair in 2 patients with
dissection of the upper descending thoracic aorta (DeBakey type III) with
coexisting discrete Marfan's aneurysms of the ascending aorta. Initial
repair of the descending aortic dissection was done through a left
thoracotomy using a transverse aorta--femoral artery shunt in 1 patient and
a left ventricular apex--femoral artery shunt without systemic
heparinization in the other. Emphasis is placed on the need for
pharmacological reduction of blood pressure during aortic cross-clamping as
well as the use of a shunt to prevent dissection of the ascending aortic
aneurysm. In both patients, subsequent repair of the ascending aortic
aneurysm was accomplished using composite graft replacement of the aortic
valve and ascending aorta. This operation is advised for such patients even
in the absence of notable aortic valve incompetence.