title: Antero-lateral partial sternotomy for extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical strategies for patients with aortic arch aneurysm extending to the descending aorta remain controversial. The antero-lateral partial sternotomy (ALPS) approach has been developed as a less invasive alternative single-stage strategy for extensive thoracic arch aneurysm (ETAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 2007 to April 2011, 18 patients underwent elective total arch replacement for ETAA by the ALPS approach (ALPS group). In this approach, a skin incision was made from the bottom of the xiphoid to the anterior axillary line at the third intercostal space with a convex curved line. The thorax was entered through the third intercostal space and a partial lower sternotomy was done. Surgical outcomes were compared with those of 22 patients with ETAA who underwent elective total arch replacement by median sternotomy alone (MS) with regard to the level of distal anastomosis, postoperative complications and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the ALPS group, no hospital mortality occurred and one patient experienced pneumonia. No significant difference between the ALPS and MS groups was seen in operative time (384.1 ± 41.6 min vs 402.3 ± 85.3 min P = 0.423) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (220.8 ± 47.1 min vs 236.9 ± 45.4 min P = 0.286). In contrast, distal anastomosis was at a significantly lower vertebral level in the ALPS than in the MS group (5.5 ± 0.4 vs 4.3 ± 0.9, respectively: P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ALPS approach provides good surgical exposure for distal aortic arch aneurysms extending to the descending aorta and ensures the accurate reconstruction of the distal anastomosis without major complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Showa University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. nobo.ishikawa@gmail.com
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omoto
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Tadamasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oi
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maruta
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawaura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome