• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.394-398
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• 1994

Takayasu`s arteritis is one of chronic inflammatory disease characteristically involving the aorta and it`s major branches. We experienced two surgical cases of Takayasu`s arteritis associated with the stenosis of the descending thoracic aorta. One case was 15 year-old girl and she was admitted because of dyspnea on exertion for 12 months. Aortogram showed the stenosis of the descending thoracic aorta from just below left subclavian artery to the 9th thoracic vetebra. The other case was 10 year-old girl and she was admitted because of URI and hypertension. Aortogram showed narrowing of right innominate artery, but developed collateral circulation, and the stenosis of the descending thoracic aorta near the 9th thoracic vertebra. In each case, bypass graft from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta just above the inferior mesenteric artery was performed with satisfactory result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.816-822
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• 1989

Aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta can be caused by various etiologies. So, its abrupt rupture leads life-threatening state, it must be operated as soon as possible. Surgical treatment of the descending thoracic aortic aneurysm requires temporary cross-clamping of major artery. The obligatory occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta during management causes proximal arterial hypertension and distal arterial hypotension. The former may leads to left ventricular failure, or cerebrovascular accident, whereas the latter may leads to spinal cord ischemia or renal injury. Some have recommended insertion of temporary shunt around the occluded descending aorta to prevent above problems. Still others would favor expeditious operation employing simple aortic occlusion during the repair of the descending aorta. Recently we had experienced two cases of dissecting aneurysms of descending thoracic aorta which performed aortoplasty with Gore-Tex conduit under simple aortic occlusion. The one was 34-year-old female patient with traumatic dissecting aortic aneurysm [5 em X 5 cm] on the descending thoracic aorta distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and the other was 58-year-old female patient with atherosclerotic dissecting descending thoracic aortic aneurysm [6 cmX7 cm] and diffuse abdominal aortic aneurysms [3X5 cm]. Both patients performed standard left posterolateral thoracotomy. After the aneurysmal sac was mobilized, occluding vascular clamps were placed on the transverse aorta proximal to the origin of the left subclavian artery, and on the distal descending aorta without adjuvant bypass procedures for 31 and 32 minutes, respectively, and the aneurysmal sac was repaired with 18 mm ringed Gore-Tex conduit graft. Both patients postoperative courses were uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.839-842
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• 2000

Aortoesophageal fistula is an uncommon and fatal complication after surgery of aortic aneurysm. A case of aortoesophageal fistula as a complication of synthetis patch aortoplasty for mycotic aneurysm of descending thoracic aorta is described. After 3 months since patch aortoplasty for mycotic aneurysm of descending thoracic aorta this patient visited the emergency room due to melena and hematemesis. After gastrofiberoscopy and computed tomography the patient was taken ot the operating room. The surgical intervention was performed in two steps. Median sternotomy and midline laparotomy were made. Hemashield's Dacron(16mm) bypass between ascending thoracic aorta and infra-renal abdominal aorta was established first. Through the posterolateral thoracotomy false aneurysm and previous Hemashield's Dacron patch of descending aorta were resected. The two ends of the aorta were sutured and esophageal fistula was repaired. The esophageal suture line and the stumps were covered with omental graft. Thirty months later the patient has had no difficulty referable to the aortic surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.862-867
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• 1994

We experienced two cases of dissecting aneurysm[DeBakey type III] of the thoracic aorta treated using intraluminal sutureless graft. Controversy still exists about the exact timing of surgical intervention for dissection of the descending thoracic aorta. The surgical indication of dissecting aneurysm[DeBakey type III] is continuous flow in the false lumen, continuous chest pain, compromise of arterial supply to a specific organ or limb, or extension of the dissection while the patient is receiving satisfactory medical treatment. Surgical therapy for dissection of the aorta has had a high mortality. One contributing factor has been hemorrhage from the prosthesis and the suture lines. Recently, a new method of treatment with a intraluminal sutureless graft that requires no end-to-end anastomosis has been developed. In our cases, cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest was utilized in repairing dissecting aneurysm of descending aorta[DeBakey type III] in order to avoid the aortic cross clamping because of friable aortic intima. The basic technique consists of vertical incision of descending aorta in the area of intimal tear and inserting the whole ringed graft into the true lumen of the dissected aorta and circumferentially ligating the aorta against the groove in the rings. Postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1042-1046
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• 1994

We experienced a case of traumatic aneurysm of descending thoracic aorta by an automobile accident. The patient was 23-year-old-male with a traumatic aortic aneurysm [6x12cm] on the descending thoracic aorta just distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery. Exposure was obtained through a left posterolateral thoracotomy incision in the fourth intercostal space and then partial femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass was established.After aortic cross- clamping, the aneurysmal sac was opened and repaired with interposition of Dacron vascular graft and aortic cross-clamping period lasted for 100 minutes. Postoperative bleeding and vocal cord paralysis were complicated, but bleeding was controlled by reoperation and vocal cord paralysis was improved. Follow up was continued for 14months and postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.610-618
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• 1995

Three neonates with interrupted aortic arch with VSD underwent one stage repair using revised technique of cardiopulmonary bypass with short period of circulatory arrest. A left posterolateral thoracotomy was made to permit mobilization of the descending aorta and placement of polytetrafluoroethylene[PTFE graft for distal aortic perfusion. Then the patient was placed in the supine position and a median sternotomy was performed to permit the proximal dissection, VSD repair, and direct anastomosis between the ascending aorta and descending aorta. This technique has advantages to facilitate direct anastomosis between the ascending aorta and the descending aorta, to lessen circulatory arrest time, and to prevent dangerous laceration and post-operative narrowing of the thin small ascending aorta at cannulation site. There was no operative mortality but postoperative stenosis developed in one case which was relieved with balloon aortoplasty.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.328-331
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• 1995

A 42-year-old Marfan female had a chronic dissection of the descending aorta[Type B and the aneurysmal expansion of the descending aorta caused compression of the trachea resulting in respiratory distress which mimicked bronchial asthma. The patient has been successfully managed by resection and replacement of the aneurysm in the descending aorta. The operation could be done without the aid of the partial cardiopumonary bypass. As the patient had been prepared by unilateral axillo-bifemoral by-pass using prosthetic graft 8mm in diameter 10days prior to the main operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.408-411
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• 2012

A 51-year-old male with sustained fever was diagnosed with military tuberculosis and tuberculous aortitis complicated with pseudoaneurysm formation at the proximal descending aorta. A follow-up computed tomography evaluation showed an increased size of the pseudoaneurysm in this area, suggestive of a contained rupture. Consequently, the patient underwent emergency excision and replacement of the aorta using a left heart bypass. The patient was discharged without postoperative complications on post-operative day 12. During the one-year follow-up period, the patient was free of any complications or recurrence of tuberculosis. We report a case of pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta that was successfully surgically repaired.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 1977

A rupture of a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta is life threatening disease and calls for emergency surgical treatment. The author recently experienced one case of ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta complicated with left hemothorax who was recovered after emergency operation of Aug. 11, 1976. The patient was a 43 years old farmer with known hypertension [260/120] for 20 years but without any venereal disease and had experienced sudden throbbing chest pain. Chest film and aortogram revealed this case ruptured aneurysm of descending thoracic aorta complicated with left hemothorax. In this case, large dissecting aneurysm extend from proximal part of left subclavian artery below diaphragm and involved with 3.0 and 4.0cm sized elliptical rupture in proximal part of descending thoracic aorta. And so, neither fenestration procedure nor replacement of dacron artificial vessel was suitable for this case. Finally, only the rupture site of aneurysm was treated by covering with fibrous pleura and teflon patch. The post-operative management of this case was planned to control hypertension with antihypertensive drugs. The follow-up was possible up to date about 2months. The patient has been doing well with ordinary activities except mild chest discomfort.

• 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.