ABSTRACT
The study summarizes the clinical experience of surgical treatments of various types of thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection. Clinical data of 122 patients with thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection during July 2005 to July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The elective operations were performed in 107 patients while emergency surgery was done in 15 cases. Different surgical strategies were employed on the basis of diseased region, including simple ascending aortic replacement (n=3), aortic root replacement (n=43), hemi-arch replacement /total arch replacement+elephant trunk technique (n=32), thoracic/thoracoabdominal aortic replacement (n=8) and endovascular repair (n=36). In this series, there is 4 cases of perioperative death due to massive cerebral hemorrhage (n=1), respiratory failure (n=1) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (n=2). Three cases developed post-operative massive cerebral infarction and the relatives of the patients abandoned treatment. Instant success rate of endovascular repair was 100%. The intimal rupture was sealed. Blood flow was unobstructed in true lumen and no false lumen was visualized. It was concluded that aggressive surgery should be considered in the patients with thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection. Surgical procedures should vary with the location and the nature of the lesions.