Acute ascending aortic dissection: surgical management

The success of total aortic root replacement in conditions such as annuloaortic ectasia and complicated redo surgery has stimulated its use in acute dissection of the ascending aorta. We believe this radical approach is, in most cases, unwarranted, considering the excellent results with valve conservation. From 1970-1978, 20 consecutive patients with acute anterior aortic dissection and aortic insufficiency were operated at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. Only one patient (5%) required reoperation for hemorrhage. The three operative deaths (15%) were associated with right coronary artery disruption, aortic-right atrial fistula and preoperative intrapericardial false lumen rupture. In eight patients, valve resuspension was combined with primary aortic repair and nine with ascending graft interposition, but aortic valve replacement was required in three because of annuloaortic ectasia or tissue friability. One patient treated by primary repair in 1971 underwent successful reoperation for redissection 7 years later (1.4% per patient-year risk of late reoperation), but the remaining 16 patients, followed 2-10 years, remain free of aortic insufficiency or recurrent aneurysm. This experience supports the use of valve reconstruction rather than replacement in most cases of acute anterior dissection of the aorta.