A Rare Location of Pseudoaneurysm in Subaortic Ring after Bentall Operation

Bentall operation is considered a gold standard of surgery in the treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm. This operation with en-bloc resection of ascending aorta and aortic valve requires aortic valve with two coronary bottoms re-replacements in a prepared composite graft. The four important locations for the pseudoaneurysm include proximal and distal composite graft anastomosis and two coronary bottom sites. However, many complications have been reported with this technique but the most serious complication associated with this operation is defined as pseudoaneurysm. We report an exceedingly rare case of subaortic ring pseudoaneurysm in retro composite graft position enclosed by infected surgical that was used to control bleeding in this location. Dehiscence occurred between the aortic ring and the underlying left ventricular muscle. The aortic ring was separated from the underlying muscle by the high tensile strength of sewing ring sutures. The pseudoaneurysm compressing the left atrium without communicating with any cardiac chamber and presenting with high fever (39°C), chills, a few months after Bentall operation. The patient underwent redo operation and repair of the dehiscence’s site. The 6-month follow-up revealed no recurrence of a pseudoaneurysm. The uniqueness of this case report is related to the site of pseudoaneurysm between the aortic ring and underlying left ventricular muscle that have not been reported in the medical literature so far.

Trans-cuff leakage in bio-Bentall operation

We have reported a case of trans-cuff leakage that occurred in a composite graft of bio-Bentall operation. The leakage resolved several months after surgery, similar to the trans-cuff leakage seen in simple aortic valve replacement. We have proposed hypotheses on the mechanism of trans-cuff leakage during a bio-Bentall operation and suggested ways to prevent it from occurring.

Giant Distal Anastomotic Pseudoaneurysm 35 Years after Bentall Operation Mimicking an “Elephant Trunk”

We present the case of a giant distal aortic pseudoaneurysm 35 years after a classic mechanical Bentall operation. Computed tomography and coronary angiography showed that this originated from the distal suture line. The proximal suture and coronary ostia appeared to be intact. At reoperation, we found a complete dehiscence of distal suture line: the graft was floating in the pseudoaneurysm, mimicking an “elephant trunk” procedure. This complication suggested a systematic and accurate follow-up of patients who underwent an original Bentall procedure.

Reversal Flow in the Left Anterior Descending Artery After Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting

Background: The flow capacity of the in situ internal thoracic artery (ITA) is not necessarily sufficient and can be a cause of hypoperfusion syndrome. We present a catastrophic case of in situ ITA grafting for an isolated left main trunk obstruction 13 years after modified Bentall operation. Case presentation: A 33-year-old woman had previously undergone a modified Bentall operation. Coronary angiography showed a critical stenosis in the left coronary artery. The patient underwent emergent off-pump CABG with the left internal thoracic artery (ITA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). On the seventh day, the patient had severe dyspnoea and hypotension. Catheter angiography showed that the ITA was patent, but blood flow from the in situ ITA was delayed, and reversal flow from the apex to the proximal LAD was found. The patient underwent implantation of a left ventricular assist device. Conclusions: In conclusion, concomitant aortocoronary bypass to the circumflex branch will minimise the risk of hypoperfusion, especially for a young patient without atherosclerotic disease.

Alternative Uses of the Ozaki Technique: Aortic Valved Conduit in a Bentall Operation and Right Ventricle-to-Pulmonary Artery Conduit

The modified Ozaki technique within a conduit is reproducible and is an alternative to the use of homografts and commercially available conduits which may have special appeal in a low resource setting.

Methods and Results of the Brain and Visceral Organs Protection During the Correction of the Ascending Aorta and Aortic Arch Aneurysm or Isolated Aortic Arch Aneurism

The ascending aorta and aortic arch aneurysm surgical correction is the most difficult problem of cardiovascular surgery due to the necessity of management of the main disease and adequate protection of the brain and visceral organs. The aim. To present the methods and results of protection of the central nervous system and visceral organs during the correction of the ascending aorta and aortic arch aneurysm or isolated aortic arch aneurism. Materials and methods. During 1994–2018, we operated 419 patients with the ascending aorta and aortic arch aneurysm (or isolated aortic arch aneurism). Diagnosis of aneurysms was based on clinical data, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography, X-ray examination, aortography. All operations were performed under general anesthesia, through the median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Valve-sparing technique with aortic valve resuspension/aortic valve plasty and semi-arch/arch replacement was used in 288/9 (68.7%) patients. Bentall operation with semi-arch/arch replacement was used in 86/9 (20.5%) patients. Other operations accounted for 45 (10.7%) patients. Results. The history of the development of aortic aneurysms treatment options is briefly overviewed in the paper. Diagnostic methods are mentioned, but the main method today is computed tomography. Initial status of the patients was severe. All operations were performed through median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. The following techniques were used for surgical treatment of aneurysms: 1) valve-sparing technique with aortic valve resuspension/ plasty and semi-arc/arch replacement was used in 288/9 (68.7%) patients. In this group there were 8 Yacoub operations, 6 David operations. In 7 patients, plication of one of the leaflets was performed in case of aortic valve prolapse. 3 patients underwent strengthening of the free edge of the leaflets and 4 patients underwent plasty by the patch in case of leaflet fenestrations; 2) Bentall operation with semi-arch/arch replacement was used in 86/9 (20.5%); 3) others: isolated arch in 15 (3.6%); Wheat operation + arch in 9 (1.0%); aortic arch plasty in 4 (1.0%); Elephant trunk (conventional Elephant trunk) + TEVAR was used in 17 (4.1%) patients. The brain protection was performed differently at each of the two stages in our surgical experience. The best result was achieved at the last stage. The number of postoperative complications decreased from 34.4% to 8.4% and hospital mortality from 17.2% to 5.3%, respectively. Also, a modern endovascular method – hybrid operations Elephant trunk + TEVAR – was used in 17 (4.1%) patients with good immediate result. Conclusions. 1. At type A aortic dissection (DeBakey type I) the operation of choice is supracoronary ascending aortic replacement with a semi-arch (arch) replacement of the aorta. 2. Accumulation of surgical experience, team training, improvement of methods of protection of the brain and visceral organs allowed to reduce the number of postoperative complications from 34.4% to 8.4% and hospital mortality from 17.2% to 5.3%.

Bentall procedure with the CarboSeal™ and CarboSeal Valsalva™ composite conduits: long-term outcomes

OBJECTIVES Data on the long-term results with the standard CarboSeal™ mechanical conduit used for the modified Bentall procedure are lacking as well as information on performance of the Valsalva CarboSeal™ conduit. METHODS We have analysed 208 recipients of a standard (n = 110) or a Valsalva (n = 98) CarboSeal™ conduit. The median age was 60 years and 90% were males; 35 (17%) had type A aortic dissection and 65 (30%) a bicuspid aortic valve. Data were retrospectively analysed and results were compared between the 2 conduit models. RESULTS Early mortality was 1.9%; the mean follow-up was 175 ± 95 for standard and 94 ± 51 months for Valsalva conduits (P < 0.01). Actuarial survival was 86 ± 4%, 75 ± 6%, 59 ± 7% and 51 ± 9% at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, respectively. There were 13 thromboembolic episodes with 3 deaths with an actuarial freedom of 98 ± 1%, 94 ± 2%, 90 ± 3% and 89 ± 4% at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, respectively. Reoperation on the aortic root was performed in 9 patients for endocarditis (n = 8) and pseudoaneurysm at the right coronary button (n = 1) with an actuarial freedom of 97 ± 1%, 95 ± 2%, 92 ± 3% and 87 ± 4% at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, respectively. There were no differences between the 2 conduit models in survival and major postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS The CarboSeal™ conduit has shown gratifying overall performance up to 20 years and appears a valid option for a modified Bentall operation, when a mechanical prosthesis is indicated. Both CarboSeal™ conduit models provided not statistically different overall long-term results.