The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 44, 53-57, Copyright © 1987 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Management of recurrent coarctation of the aorta: a new experimental technique
VA Kucich, MN Ilbawi, M Reynolds, FG Crussi, SY DeLeon and FS Idriss
A new technique is described for the management of recurrent coarctation of
the aorta. It involves enlarging the narrowed segment by an onlay patch
sutured to the adventitia and outer media of the aortic wall. The procedure
was used in 6 mongrel dogs with preexisting surgically created coarctation.
Aortic cross-clamping time ranged between 7.5 and 11 minutes (mean, 8.8 +/-
1.3 minutes). There were no operative deaths or complications. Gross and
microscopic examination of the aorta 6 to 12 months (mean, 9 +/- 2.2
months) postoperatively revealed a 290 to 380% (mean, 350 +/- 30%) increase
in the diameter of the repaired area and no evidence of thrombosis or
pseudoaneurysm formation. The need for minimal dissection and the brief
period of aortic cross-clamping make this approach an attractive
alternative in the surgical treatment of patients with difficult cases of
recoarctation.