Surgical Outcomes of Kommerell Diverticulum

Background@#We aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgical repair of Kommerell diverticulum (KD) with individualized surgical methods. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was performed of adult patients (aged ≥17 years) who underwent surgery to treat KD between June 2008 and October 2019. @*Results@#Nine patients (median age, 45 years; range, 19–67 years; 7 men) underwent surgical repair. The indications for surgical therapy were acute aortic dissection in 2 patients, the presence of compressive symptoms due to dilated KD in 4 patients, and aneurysm growth in 3 patients. Various surgical techniques were used: (1) resection of the diverticulum stump and revascularization of the aberrant subclavian artery (n=3), (2) one-stage total-arch replacement including the diverticulum segment (n=3), and (3) hybrid repair (n=3). Early mortality occurred in 1 case of hybrid repair. Transient paraparesis occurred in a patient who underwent total arch repair as part of complicated acute aortic dissection.During follow-up (median duration, 30 months; range, 7–130 months), no late death or associated aortic complications were documented. All survivors were free from symptoms and had no abnormal findings on follow-up computed tomography. @*Conclusion@#With a customized surgical approach and appropriate consideration of patient-specific anatomy and associated comorbidities, KD can be repaired with favorable outcomes.

Aortic Root Reimplantation in a Patient Who Underwent an Arterial Switch Operation

Neo-aortic insufficiency associated with root enlargement following an arterial switch operation is a serious late complication. To achieve successful surgical correction of this condition, multiple factors should be considered, including the individual patient's anatomy, the challenging nature of the redo procedure, and the patient's young age. However, limited publications have described the use of valve-sparing techniques for the treatment of neo-aortic insufficiency associated with root enlargement following an arterial switch operation. Herein, we report our recent experience of a valve-sparing aortic root procedure with ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement despite the presence of a discrepancy in leaflet size and nearby severe adhesions.