Emergency graft replacement of the aortic arch for acute type A aortic dissection

Between May 1988 and December 1990, 7 patients underwent graft replacement of both the ascending aorta and aortic arch for acute type A aortic dissection. Preoperative complications included cardiac tamponade in 5 cases, rupture of the left pleural cavity in 1, and aortic regurgitation in 5. All operations were performed with the aid of extracorporeal circulation and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) on an emergency basis. Concomitant procedures included aortic cusp suspension in 3 cases, Bentall operation in 2, and CABG in 1. There were no deaths within 1 month of surgery, nor were there serious postoperative cerebral complications. One patient with chronic obstructive lung disease died of pneumonia 5 months after the operation. The other 6 patients are presently leading normal lives with long-term follow-up. The present data suggest that SCP with an open aortic anastomosis is a useful adjunct in aortic arch replacement for acute type A aortic dissection.