[A case of successful operation for chronic aortic dissection (DeBakey 1 type) complicated with cerebral infarction]

We report a successful operation for a patient of chronic aortic dissection complicated with cerebral infarction. A 60-year-old woman has been treated suffering from cerebral infarction for 7 years. She was referred to our hospital for abnormal chest X-ray and complaint of dry cough. The enhanced CT scan and aortogram demonstrated chronic aortic dissection (DeBakey I) extending from ascending aorta to the abdominal aortic bifurcation with occlusion of right common carotid artery and dilated ascending aorta and aortic arch. The onset of aortic dissection seemed to be, from a clinical point of view, coincident with the onset of cerebral infarction seven years ago. The replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch with woven Dacron velour graft were performed under hypothermic and selective cerebral perfusion. The postoperative course was uneventful although complicated with transient recurrence nerve palsy and she has been doing well.