[Evaluation of surgical technique and indication on descending aortic aneurysms].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the surgical technique and indication on descending aortic aneurysms.


METHODS
From January 1996 to June 2006, 41 patients with descending aortic aneurysm underwent operation, including DeBakey type III dissection in 26, false aneurysm in 6, true aneurysm in 4, and residual or newly complicated type III dissection after the surgery of Marfan syndrome in 5. Operations were performed by left heart bypass in 9, femoral-femoral bypass in 7, pulmonary-femoral bypass in 2, and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in 23. The whole thoracic descending aorta was replaced in 15, and intercostal arteries were reimplanted in 12.


RESULTS
One patient died of acute renal failure with the hospital mortality 2.4%. Main complications: respiratory dysfunction in 6, renal dysfunction in 6, recurrent nerve injuries in 4, chylothorax in 2, and no paraplegia.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical intervention of descending aortic aneurysm still has its unique advantages and indications; surgical safety is markedly improved by the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
Xu
Zhi-yun
ZY
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. zhiyunx@hotmail.com
Song
Zhi-gang
ZG
Han
Lin
L
Lu
Fang-lin
FL
Zou
Liang-jian
LJ
Xu
Ji-bin
JB
Zhang
Bao-ren
BR
Wang
Lian-cai
LC
Wang
Jun
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies