From Jan/1990 to Mar/1999 we performed 354 operations on the thoracic aorta in our hospital. Among these, 47 procedures involved the aortic arch; 31 patients were male (66.0%) and ages ranged from 26-74 years (mean = 54.9 ± 10.9). Aortic dissection was present in 33 patients (70.2%) and fusiform or sacular aneurysms in 14 (29.8%). Previous cardíac procedures had been performed in 11 patients (23.4%), rupture with cardíac tamponade was present in 4 patients. Median sternotomy was used in 42 cases and bilateral thoracotomy in 5. Deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest was used in 97.8% of cases with the arrest period ranging from 15 to 60 minutes (m = 30.6 ± 12.6). Anterior hemiarch reconstruction was used in 19 patients (40.4%), posterior hemiarch in 5 (10.6%), total arch replacement in 18 (38.3%) aortoplasty in 4 (8.5%) and extra-anatomic bypass with exclusion in 1 (2.1%). The main associated procedures were: myocardial revascularization (9), ascending aorta replacement by a valved conduit (15), elephant trunk (5) and aortic valve replacement (3). Hospital mortality was 12,3% (6 patients) and respiratory insufficiency was the most common non-fatal complication (7 cases). Determinant factors for hospital mortality showed a statistical tendency for age over 60 years (p = 0.17) and for acute aortic dissection (p = 0.07). Late follow-up was achieved in 95.12% of the hospital survivors. There were 3 late deaths (1 cerebro-vascular accident, 2 reoperations). The 9 year survival rate is 80.85%.
Aortic aneurysm, thoracic; Aneurysm dissecting; Aorta, thoracic
