• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.308-311
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• 2010

Coarctation of the aorta is frequently associated with intracardiac disease. It is very difficult to decide on the best method for surgically treating adult patients with these combined heart diseases. We performed single-stage repair via a modified Bentall operation and by creating an intrapericardial ascending-descending aortic bypass through a median sternotomy in a patient with coarctation of the aorta and annuloaortic ectasia, and the latter was associated with aortic valve regurgitation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.336-339
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• 1997

The surgical treatment of diseases of thoracic aorta has had much better success rate in recent years compaired to the past. Aortic aneurysms or dissections that extend along the entire thoracic aorta are usually approached in two or three stages. Recently we successfully perfofm d one-stage aortic replacement from the aortic root to the abdominal aorta in chronic DeBakey type I dissection. A 25 year-old man who had dyspnea on exertion (NYHA Fc II) and a Marfanoid feature was operated under the diagnosis of chronic type I dissection with severe aortic regurgitation. ' At operation, a huge ascending aorta with two intimal tearings was seen and the blood supply of intercostal arteries and right renal artery was done from the false lumen. Modified Bentall operation with total aortic replacement was done successfully, and the patient is being followed-up without major complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.872-875
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• 2004

The treatment modalities of the intramural hematoma (IMH) remain controversial. Nowadays, the IMH of the descending thoracic aorta is generally classified in the medical treatment category. We describe a patient with IMH of the descending thoracic aorta who received the medical treatment. During the follow-up, we speculated that the IMH had been aggravated leading to an aortic rupture including hemothorax. Therefore, we performed an emergency operation. Contrary to our expectations, operative findings showed a well-organized aortic wall and serous pleural effusion. The exact diagnosis was IMH of the descending thoracic aorta with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU). This case reminded us of the importance of accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.691-694
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• 2003

A 49-year-old woman had thoracic back pain for several years. Chest CT scan and MRI angiography revealed descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 69 mm. Thoracic aortography showed not only the aortic aneurysm, but also coarctation of descending thoracic aorta at the level of aortic hiatus of the diaphragm. Intercostal artery arising Adamkiewicz artery was found in descending thoracic aortic aneurysm just above the coarctation, The aneurysm with coarctation of the aorta was successfully repaired with prosthetic graft replacement under left atrio-femoral bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.557-558
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• 2001

We operated on a Marfan patient who had Stanford type A acute aortic dissection, aortic root aneurysm, and aortic regurgitation. The Yacoub-David aortic root remodeling procedure which preserves native aortic valve and replaces all three aortic sinuses and ascending aorta by a Dacron graft, was applied for this patient. A 24mm Hemashield graft was designed to three tongues at the aortic root end to meet the shape of the Valsalva sinuses. The patient recovered from the procedure uneventfully and there was no aortic regurgitation posto-peratively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2010

Intramural hematoma of the aorta (IMH) is the precursor or a variant of a classic aortic dissection where hemorrhage occurs within the aorta wall in the absence of an initial intimal tear. IMH has a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The optimal therapy for IMH is uncertain, yet the involvement of the ascending aorta is usually considered as an indication for surgery due to the associated risk of rupture or cardiac tamponade. We report here on a case of a 71-year-old man who presented with syncope. Because of misdiagnosis, he underwent computed tomography (CT) after 5 hrs from arriving to the ER. Computed tomography of the aorta revealed intramural hematoma of the ascending aorta with cardiac tamponade. He also had vascular complications such as acute renal failure and visceral ischemia. We performed emergency graft replacement of the total arch and ascending aorta. He was discharged without complication on postoperative day 14.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 1998

A 28 years old pregnant woman(Gestational age 35 weeks) had been operated emergency Cesarian section for delivery and emergency graft replacement of ascending aorta and total arch for acute type A aortic dissection. 1 year and 6 months later, she underwent aortic graft replacement from descending thoracic aorta to both common iliac arteries because of further progression of aortic dissection. So far she has a complete artificial graft aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1234-1237
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• 1998

Patients with aortic root disease, frequently seen in Marfan syndrome have progressive dilatation of the aortic sinuses and dilatation and distortion of the aortic annulus, leading to aortic incompetence. They are currently treated with composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve and reimplantation of the coronary arteries. Recently, we experienced an aortic root replacement with aortic valve preservation in a patient with annuloaortic ectasia. The ascending aorta and sinus was excised except the aortic annulus and aortic valve. The aortic valve was reimplanted inside of a collagen-impregnated tubular Dacron graft. The coronary arteries were also reimplanted. The patient was followed up for six months and reevaluated with the echocardiography. Postoperative Doppler echocardiography revealed normal aortic valve function. With this technique, it is possible to preserve the native aortic valve if the aortic leaflets are anatomically normal.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.599-604
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• 2002

Acute or chronic aortic dissection may lead to the rupture, which is the major cause of death. A dissecting aneurysm of ascending aorta(Stanford type A dissection) can rupture into the superior vena cava producing a aortocaval fistula, which is rare, but has been reported mostly in the cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm. We report a case of 67-year-old man with type A chronic dissection and aortocaval fistula, presenting symptoms of superior vena syndrome. The preoperative diagnosis was composed of radiologic examinations, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging angiography and aortography. The dissecting aneurysm was resected and replaced, and the aortocaval fistula was repaired under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The details are described here.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2008

Background: Conventional ascending aortic cross clamping is often limited. This study was carried out to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an endovascular aortic clamping technique with an intraaortic balloon catheter. Material and Method: From April 2004 to January 2007, surgery with endoaortic clamping was performed in seven patients. A retrograde access perfusion (RAP) catheter was used in six patients and a Pruitt's balloon catheter in two patients. The indication for the operation was a retrosternal pseudoaneurysm of the aortic root in six patients, diffuse calcification of the ascending aorta with aortic regurgitation in 2 patients and an atrial septal defect in one patient. Five patients had at least two prior cardiac surgeries. Result: Successful insertion of the catheter and endoaortic clamping was achieved in all patients. Conclusion: The endovascular aortic clamping technique with a balloon catheter was a useful alternative method for patients in whom conventional cardiac surgery was limited.