title: Straight incision for extended descending and thoracoabdominal aortic replacement: novel and simple exposure with rib-cross thoracotomy.
abstract: Spiral incision of the thoracic wall towards the tip of a scapula and approach through the sixth intercostal space has been a standard method for the replacement of thoracoabdominal and descending aortic aneurysms. However, the exposure of the proximal lesion of the aorta with the spiral incision is not always sufficient for patients with a lesion extending into the aortic arch. Patients with Marfan syndrome tend to have a flat chest, and exposure using left thoracotomy generally causes difficulty to operate on the aortic arch.
  
  
  
  Since May 2012, 47 patients (mean age 51.2 ± 16.1, range 9-79, 33 males) have received a novel incision for better exposure of the extended descending and thoracoabdominal aneurysm. A straight incision instead of the traditional spiral one was made from the axilla to the umbilical region and the fourth to sixth ribs were transected. The latissimus dorsi muscle and thoracodorsal artery were preserved, which could be a source for collateral circulation to the Adamkiewicz artery. There were two emergent operations for acute aortic dissection. Twenty-four patients (51%) had undergone previous proximal aortic operation, and 2 patients undergone debranched thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair of the aortic arch. Connective tissue disorders were diagnosed in 16 (34.0%) patients (Marfan syndrome 13, Loeys-Dietz syndrome 3). All surgeries were performed under profound hypothermia.
  
  
  
  Seven patients underwent total descending aortic replacement, and the others had Type II thoracoabdominal aortic replacements. Three had partial aortic arch replacement, 5 had total aortic arch replacement and 3 had Y-grafting for the abdominal aorta concomitantly. Operation time was 567 ± 141 min and cardiopulmonary bypass time was 259 ± 60 min. Three patients had a major stroke (6.4%), and 1 had a minor stroke. There was no spinal cord complication among survivors. Hospital mortality rate was 4.3% (2/47). These 2 patients underwent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement, and had a major stroke.
  
  
  
  This new exposure with straight incision with rib-cross thoracotomy provided excellent exposures for the long segment of the thoracoabdominal aorta, and it enabled extended replacement from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan minatoya@ncvc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minatoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seike
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itonaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Naonori
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Syuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Junjiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D055947:Loeys-Dietz Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012272:Ribs / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Rib-cross thoracotomy; Subtotal aortic replacement; Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm