Panminerva medica
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Replacement of the ascending aorta for aneurysm or dissection remains a complex challenge for cardiac surgeons. Between January 1984 and December 1993, 30 patients have had simultaneous resection of the ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement. Sixteen of them had composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve with a modified Bentall's technique (Group I). ⋯ Four patients in Group I and two in Group II had postoperatively low cardiac output, two of them necessitating intraaortic balloon pump insertion. 43% of the patients had no perioperative complications. At the end of follow-up (n = 25), average 6 months (range 1-52 months), twenty-two survivors (22/25 or 88.0%) were in NYHA functional class 1. Simultaneous ascending aortic aneurysm repair and aortic valve replacement can be accomplished with an acceptable mortality and little morbidity.