Surgical Treatment of Acute Dissecting Aneurysm of the Ascending Aorta

During an eleven-year period (1959-1970) 27 patients were operated upon for acute dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta. There were 4 hospital and 4 late deaths. Nineteen patients are well and active one month to seven years after operation. In 21 of the patients the ascending aorta was replaced with a graft; 6 had the aortic valve excised and replaced with a prosthesis; in 5 patients the leaflets were resuspended but left in situ; and in 16 patients the valve was competent and was not disturbed. We recommend early operation for acute dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta.