Simplified thoracic approach to the ascending and descending aorta in complex coarctation

Two patients with left ventricular and proximal aortic hypertension secondary to diffuse hypoplasia of the aortic arch have recently been treated by a surgical technique based on: I simultaneous exposure of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta through a left antero-latero-posterior thoracotomy; 2 insertion of a Dacron graft between the aortic root and the descending thoracic aorta. In both cases equal systemic pressures in the ascending and descending thoracic aorta and adequate distal perfusion were obtained.