Resection of Entire Ascending Aorta in Fusiform Aneurysm Using Cardiac Bypass

Fusiform aneurysm of the ascending aorta is a common form of aortic disease and is associated with a grave prognosis. Although excisional therapy is now established as the method of choice for aneurysms of the aorta, this form of treatment for aneurysms of the ascending aorta has been limited until the present time to sacciform lesions in which the neck is relatively small. In such instances tangential excision of the aneurysm with lateral aortorrhaphy may be curative if the adjacent aortic wall is not also involved by the degenerative process. In fusiform aneurysms and in most extensive sacciform lesions this method of treatment cannot be utilized and segmental resection of the ascending aorta with homograft replacement is necessary. Because of the fatal consequences from even brief occlusion of the ascending aorta, no aneurysm in this anatomic location has been treated successfully by segmental aortic resection. This report is concerned with