[A case of aortitis operated twice Bentall's operation due to valve (graft) detachment]

A 40-year-old man had received emergency Bentall's operation due to acute aortic regurgitation (AR) of aortitis in October, 24, 1990. On out patient clinic, the CRP had been kept from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/dl in dose of 10 mg of prednisolone. In the midnight of November, 17, 1992, his condition deteriorated to circulatory shock and echocardiography revealed massive AR due to para-annular graft detachment with large pseudoaneurysm of 50 mm. He was transferred for emergency operation. The composite graft shifted 2-3 cm above the annulus and detached in three quarter of the annulus. Distal anastomosis was also detached in half of anastomosis and coronary anastomosis almost detached. He was operated on modified Bentall's operation employing Piehler's technique and he is now followed in dose of 10 mg of prednisolone. There are some cases of aortitis showing recurrent valve or graft detachment like this case, even if modified Bentall's operation have been done to decrease the mechanical stress to the annulus and the inflammation have been controlled under the dosage of steroid.