Short-term Outcomes of Aortic Wrapping for Mild to Moderate Ascending Aorta Dilatation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.
BACKGROUND
The adequate management of mild to moderate dilatation of the ascending aorta during cardiac operations remains controversial. In this study, we present the short-term outcomes of 90 patients undergoing ascending aortic wrapping with a Dacron graft during other cardiac operations.


METHODS
From March 2008 to January 2011, 90 consecutive patients underwent treatment for ascending aortic aneurysm using the external wrapping technique during the concomitant procedure. The study group consisted of 49 male and 41 female patients with a mean age of 58.7±13 years. The primary cardiac surgical procedures were coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 3, aortic valve replacement in 2, and aortic valvuloplasty in 85 patients (isolated in 62 and combined with CABG or mitral valvuloplasty in 23). The ascending aorta diameter was measured using a computed tomography scan within 4 weeks after surgery, and was compared with the preoperative value.


RESULTS
The diameters of the ascending aorta wrapped with the Dacron graft were significantly reduced within a month after surgery from 46.4±4.3 mm to 33.0±3.5 mm (p<0.05). There was no early mortality or major surgical complication. During the mean follow-up period of 15.4±5.2 months, there was only one late death caused by septic multiorgan failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Dacron wrapping of the ascending aorta offers excellent results with very low mortality and morbidity, and it can be regarded as a safe and effective method for the treatment of moderately dilated ascending aorta in selected patients.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Korea.
Ji Young
JY
Park
Je-Kyoun
JK
Shin
Jin Woo
JW
Chung
Jun Seok
JS
Kim
Hyun Keun
HK
Chee
Meong-Gun
MG
Song