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We encountered a patient who had undergone a transposition procedure, which encompassed the performance of subclavian-common carotid arterial end-to-side anastomosis before a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) when carrying out Stanford type B aortic dissection. A 50-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection that tended to expand. Transposition was performed in advance of zone 2 TEVAR. Lymphorrhea was observed under the skin following surgery. A decreasing tendency for lymphorrhea was confirmed at six months following the operation. Coil embolization was performed after the occurrence of a type I leak following TEVAR;the leak was repaired successfully during the procedure. No ischemic symptoms in the upper left limb or any cerebral complications were observed, demonstrating the safety of the transposition method. The transposition method can be the first choice for revascularization of the left subclavian artery because it requires only one incision, no anticoagulant drugs, and is expected to maintain patency for a long period.

A 61-year-old female underwent ascending aortic replacement (resecting the primary entry in the ascending aorta) for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection 1 year and 8 months before. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on 17 days later. Follow-up recent computed tomography (CT) scans, however, revealed dissecting aortic aneurysm of the distal aortic arch due to a new entry at the distal anastomosis of the ascending replacement. Thoracic endovascular aor-tic repair( placing a short stent graft, 52-mm Valiant Navion, into the ascending aorta) was successfully performed to occlude the new entry. Post-procedural CT scans indicated retrograde flow into the false lumen of the aortic arch via a re-entry of the left subclavian artery, and endovascular repair to exclude the re-entry is now planned.

A 61-year-old man was referred to our hospital for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection and an emergency operation was planned. In this case, the aberrant left vertebral artery originated directly from the aortic arch. Total arch replacement at the level between the left carotid artery and left aberrant vertebral artery was performed and an open stent graft was deployed in the true lumen of the descending aorta to obtain better distal aortic remodeling. The proximal edge of the nitinol skeleton of the open stent graft was placed distal to the orifice of the left subclavian artery. The left subclavian artery was not reconstructed in the mediastinum but bypassed distally to the left axillary artery so that the left subclavian artery could perfuse the aberrant left vertebral artery through the preserved aortic arch. Patency of all arch branches including the aberrant left vertebral artery was confirmed in postoperative computed tomography( CT) angiography.

Kommerell's diverticulum with an aberrant subclavian artery is a rare congenital aortic arch anomaly. Therefore surgical indication and strategy are not well established. A 43-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of chest and back pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed Kommerell's diverticulum and aberrant right subclavian artery( ARSA) with Stanford type B acute aortic dissection. Aortic dissection involved Kommerell's diverticulum and ARSA. We performed total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk technique and ARSA embolization. The postoperative course was uneventful. Contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed thrombosed Kommerell's diverticulum and closure of the primary tear. This surgical approach would be an effective treatment option for Kommerell's diverticulum with an aberrant subclavian artery.

A 63-year-old man, who underwent urgent ascending aortic replacement for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection 8 years before, was presented with consciousness loss. Hemolytic anemia( hemoglobin 6.5 g/dl, LDH 1,477 U/l, total bilirubin 3.8 mg/dl) was diagnosed. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) scans revealed severe flexion and stenosis of the replaced ascending aortic graft with intraluminal protrusion of the lesser curvature progressing as compared with 8 years before. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair, i.e. stent-graft implantation into the ascending aortic graft, under rapid pacing was successfully performed. The graft flexion/stenosis was slightly improved, and the intraluminal protrusion of the lesser curvature was covered by the stent graft. Anemia was completely resolved. Endovascular repair for graft flexion/stenosis bringing hemolytic anemia is far less invasive than redo aortic replacement and may be a useful therapeutic tool in limited cases.

A 53-year-old male, diagnosed with Stanford A acute aortic dissection, underwent a total arch replacement with a conventional elephant trunk. During the extubation phase, paraplegia and sensory disturbance were identified, prompting suspicion of spinal cord injury (SCI) attributed to thrombosis of the false lumen and subsequent obstruction of the segmental arteries. Apixaban was administered in addition to spinal drainage, meticulous blood pressure management, and administration of mannitol, edaravone, naloxone, and prednisolone. Postoperative computed tomography angiography disclosed the thrombosis of false lumen proximal to Th9 level while magnetic resonance imaging detected findings consistent with infarction in the spinal cord distal to Th3. Unfortunately, his symptoms persisted, necessitating transfer to rehabilitation facility on the 37th day postoperatively. Despite preventive measures including avoidance of too long elephant trunk, extensive false lumen thrombosis could cause SCI. While the literature reports the efficacy of anticoagulation therapy, such intervention was ineffective in our case.

Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, minimally invasive thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been reported to be a safe surgical treatment for acute BTAI. Here, we report the success of TEVAR using the concomitant chimney technique for BTAI. A 70-year-old man in shock was referred to our emergency room following a traffic accident. Computed tomography( CT) scan demonstrated multiple rib fractures, hemothorax, and BTAI. According to the severity of BTAI as classified by the Society for Vascular Surgery( SVS) guidelines, the patient was diagnosed with grade 4 free rupture. We performed TEVAR twice because of the endoleak; however, this method saved the patient's life. The use of the chimney technique to preserve the patency of the left subclavian artery is beneficial because the majority of BTAI cases occur in the aortic isthmus from a pathophysiological perspective.

We experienced an extremely rare case of blunt traumatic aortic arch pseudoaneurysm( BTAAPA) and report it with literature review. A 40-year-old asymptomatic man with chest X-ray abnormality visited our hospital. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography( CT) scans revealed saccular aortic-isthmus aneurysm, and BTAAPA was diagnosed because of a history of multiple severe traffic trauma 21 years before. The patient underwent replacement of the distal aortic arch and proximal descending aorta under partial cardiopulmonary bypass through left posterolateral thoracotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. BTAAPA is exceedingly uncommon, and our comprehensive literature search identified only 9 cases including the present case. The age at diagnosis was 10 to 76 years, 7 cases were males, and most of the traumas were due to traffic accidents. The present case had the longest duration (21 years) from the trauma to the diagnosis. Six patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair with good prognosis.

We present the case of 60s male who underwent ductus arteriosus closure at the age of 10. He presented with hoarseness and a 25 mm-sized saccular aortic aneurysm was identified at the site of the closed ductus through the computed tomography( CT). The patient successfully underwent 1-debranch thoracic endovascular aortic repair resulting in improved hoarseness. While rare, several reports have documented aneurysm formation long after ductus arteriosus closure. Recent studies highlight favorable outcomes with endovascular repair. Despite its rarity, aneurysmal formation after ductus closure remains a serious complication. Given the increasing population of patients with prior ductus arteriosus closure and the discontinuation of long-term follow-up, awareness of the complication of aneurysmal formation is crucial. Not only congenital cardiologists but also general physicians should consider this differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms such as hoarseness or back pain and a history of ductus closure.

In our institution, when we perform aortic arch surgery with isolated left vertebral artery using an extracorporeal circulation, we select an interposed saphenous vein graft technique. This technique has a relatively short clamping time and allows for selective cerebral perfusion and flexible choice of reconstruction site. Although other techniques, such as an island reconstruction, have been reported, we do not perform it often due to its longer ischemic time of the left vertebral artery. On the other hand, we use a direct reconstruction technique in cases where an extracorporeal circulation is not used. This direct reconstruction technique in cases of isolated left vertebral artery could reduce the time and number of clamping it.

Aortic coarctation is diagnosed in approximately 5% of adult patients with congenital heart disease and is commonly diagnosed through the close examination of hypertension. Various surgical strategies for adult coarctation have been recently reported. Generally, aortic replacement may require blood transfusion in case of injury of the well-developed collateral vessels. Therefore, in order to secure an operative safety, we preoperatively used a medical image viewer to identify the abnormal vessels by three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) reconstruction. A 34-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital with hypertension and low ankle-brachial pressure index( ABI). Chest computed tomography( CT) scan showed aortic coarctation and development of abnormal collateral vessels. Descending aorta was replaced via a left third-fourth intercostal thoracotomy under partial extracorporeal circulation. As the image viewer depicted, anatomical abnormality of the collateral vessels was identified precisely, and surgically treated without any injury. The patient was discharged 10 days postoperatively without transfusion and with a normalized ABI.

A 52-year-old woman with Marfan syndrome developed Stanford type B aortic dissection and was treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. However, 29 months later, she presented with retrograde Stanford type A aortic dissection. We successfully performed aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique and valve-sparing aortic root replacement. The advantages of the frozen elephant trunk technique are that the distal anastomosis can be created without stent-graft resection and the cardiac arrest time is shortened. Therefore, the frozen elephant trunk technique was considered valuable and safe in this potentially lethal situation.

A 67-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for sudden onset chest pain and hoarseness. He underwent 2-debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair for a ruptured aortic arch aneurysm four years prior. However, computed tomography (CT) revealed an aneurysmal rerupture due to a typeⅠa endoleak. We performed partial arch replacement with uncovered stent removal under intermittent hypothermic circulatory arrest. We needed to be more careful than usual open heart surgery because a non-anatomical bypass procedure was performed. The surgery was successful without any major complications, and the patient was discharged on the 23th postoperative day. Reinterventions post-endovascular repair are sometimes difficult;thus, open surgery could be useful for arch replacement.

It has been reported that the recurrent nerve may not be recognized during mediastinal lymph node dissection in surgery for right upper lobe lung cancer associated with the right aortic arch. In the present case, a 66-year-old man underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy for right upper lobe lung cancer associated with the right aortic arch. The gap between the superior vena cava and descending aortic arch was narrow, and the vagus nerve ran between the superior vena cava and the aorta. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was able to confirm. The vagus nerve ran the hilum of lung back side from arch of azygos vein on the peripheral side. The morphology of the right aortic arch varies from case to case, and if the vagus nerve and recurrent nerve are difficult to identify, the nerve may be hidden by the superior vena cava. If the nerve cannot be recognized, the space between the superior vena cava and the aorta should be dissected and confirmed. In addition, taping the vagus nerve and observing it from the caudal to the cephalic side may be useful for the recurrent nerve that turns to the mediastinum. In this case, magnification of the thoracoscope is extremely useful.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of continuous distal perfusion( CDP) with that of intermittent distal perfusion( IDP) during frozen elephant trunk( FET) procedures., Methods: There were 54 patients in the CDP group and 15 patients in the IDP group. There were no significant differences in preoperative characteristics between the two groups, but dissection was more common in the IDP group than in the CDP group, and the maximum aneurysmal diameter was larger in the CDP group than in the IDP group., Results: Emergency surgery was significantly more common in the IDP group than in the CDP group. Operating time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, lower body arrest time, and aortic cross-clamp time were significantly longer in the IDP group. Postoperative paraparesis occurred in one case in each group, and temporary paraparesis occurred in two cases in the CDP group, with no significant differences, including in mechanical ventilation time. There were two in-hospital deaths, one due to respiratory failure and one due to ischemic colitis, in the CDP group and one due to multiple organ failure in the IDP group. Postoperative liver and renal functions did not differ significantly between the two groups., Conclusion: IDP has proven to be almost as effective as CDP during FET for preventing spinal cord ischemia and maintaining respiratory, liver, and renal functions.

A 44-year old man with a history of Stanford type B acute aortic dissection was admitted for the treatment of acute aortic dissection. Computed tomography( CT) scan showed a descending entry-type non-A non-B aortic dissection with a maximum diameter of 65 mm occurring in a patient with Edwards typeⅢ right aortic arch whose left subclavian artery was obliterated. The patient was initially treated conservatively and underwent one-stage extended aortic repair from the ascending aorta to the descending thoracic aorta via median sternotomy 22 days after the symptom onset. Although the patient suffered from right empyema postoperatively, he was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 64 after 4 weeks antibiotics therapy. The patient was also complicated by right recurrent nerve palsy, hoarseness improved over the 8 months after surgery.

An 85-year-old woman underwent aortic arch replacement and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) 5 years ago. She suffered from chest and back pain. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated enlargement of the aortic aneurysm by a type Ⅲb endoleak. TEVAR was performed to close a type Ⅲb endoleak with a relining technique uneventfully. Intraoperative completion aortography and postoperative CT confirmed the disappearance of a type Ⅲb endoleak. She was discharged 27 days after the treatment.

We present two cases with locally advanced lung cancer invading the descending aorta. Case 1 is a 67 years old male, who had been followed up for stroke. Enlargement of a mass lesion in the left lung was pointed out on further examination. Case 2 is a 64-year-old man, who was referred to our hospital because of cough and abnormal shadow on the chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT). We suspected that both tumors were lung carcinoma invading the descending aorta based on enhanced CT findings. In both cases, the clinical stage was cT4N0M0 stageⅢA. They underwent left pneumonectomy with combined en bloc tubular resection and reconstruction of the descending aorta via a posterolateral thoracotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass in the right lateral decubitus position. The histologic type of both tumors was squamous cell carcinoma. The pathological staging was pT4N0M0 in case 1, and pT4N2M0 in case 2. After surgery, the first patient received chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin and vinorelbine plus pembrolizumab. He survived 17 months until sudden death of unknown reason. The second did not receive adjuvant treatment because his postoperative performance status was slightly reduced. He died of local recurrence 6 months after the operation.

Although mortality and complication rates of cardiovascular surgery have been reduced, shaggy aorta, which is defined as an extensive severe atherosclerosis of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, is considered a risk factor for perioperative mortality and complications. The shaggy aorta often leads a poor prognosis, and a very high hospital mortality rate when embolization occurs in multiple organs. Therefore, it is important to prevent embolism through detailed evaluation of the disease with preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, appropriate individualized treatment decisions, and careful surgical manipulation.

A 59-year-old man was referred to our hospital for surgery for a dissecting aortic aneurysm with an aberrant right subclavian artery( ARSA). He had a history of surgery for atrial septal defect at the age of 3 and developed Stanford type B aortic dissection at the age of 53. The maximum diameter of the aortic aneurysm was 68 mm, and the entry was located close to the ARSA origin. We established cardiopulmonary bypass using the femoral artery and vein and performed a median re-sternotomy. We performed total arch replacement with the open stent-grafting technique. The ARSA was ligated from the right thoracic cavity. Three arch branches were reconstructed in situ, and the right axillary artery was bypassed with a 9 mm Dacron graft. Six months after that operation, reduction of the false lumen was observed. This strategy is considered to be effective for chronic aortic dissection with ARSA.

A 79-years-old frail man with severe combined valvular disease was referred to our hospital. Furthermore, chest computed tomography( CT) showed a saccular aneurysm in the aortic arch. We chose two staged repairs for risk reduction. As a first stage double valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty were performed. Three months later, we performed successful branched thoracic endovascular aortic repair( TEVAR) used physician modified Najuta which had hydrogel-reinforced fenestrations to provide a more secure connection with the bridging graft than fenestrations alone. Staged surgery with branched TEVAR used physician modified Najuta is a useful strategy in patients who have complex cardiac disease combined with aortic arch aneurysm.

A 64-year-old man was transferred to our hospital due to a diagnosis of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection complicated by cardiac tamponade. He was in shock status as well. Careful inspection of contrast- enhanced computed tomography revealed Kommerell's diverticulum with the aberrant right subclavian artery running behind the esophagus. The artery connected to the right axillary artery. The left vertebral artery was separately branched from the aortic arch. Primary entry was not detected on the preoperative computed tomography( CT). Left ventricular function was preserved by transthoracic echocardiography. At emergency surgery, total aortic arch replacement with reconstruction of the right axillary artery, both carotid arteries, and the left subclavian artery along with the left vertebral artery was successfully performed. The aberrant right subclavian artery was ligated at the origin. Kommerell' s diverticulum was completely excluded. Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT showed the patency of all reconstructed arteries. Although he suffered from acute cholecystitis and persistent bilateral pleural effusion, he was discharged in a good condition.

An 88-year-old male underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with the double-debranching and chimney technique for arch aortic aneurysm. When the aforementioned procedure was performed, the left common carotid artery was closed and transected, and the left subclavian artery was embolized and bypassed, respectively. However, postoperatively, the gutter endoleak persisted, and the aneurysm enlarged;therefore, requiring additional surgery. A skin incision was made on the left side of the neck, and the closed and dissected left common carotid artery stump was detected. A sheath was placed at the stump and an angiographic catheter and guidewire were used to retrograde cannulate the gutter beside the chimney graft, and coil embolization was performed. No endoleak was observed at postoperatively and 6-month follow up computed tomography( CT). We believe that embolization from a deblanched left common carotid artery stump is useful for endoleaks after TEVAR employing the chimney and debranching technique.

Open stent grafting is an effective technique in surgery for treating-ruptured aortic aneurysms in the distal aortic arch, but it is not always applied as it depends on the shape of the aneurysm. In this case, the aneurysm was long in the distal aortic arch and sharply angulated into the descending aorta;thus, it was anticipated that an off-the-shelf open stent graft would not cover the ruptured area. Therefore, we used a stent graft device for thoracic endovascular aortic repair as an open stent and succeeded in saving the patient's life.

A 59-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital because of a sudden onset of chest and back pain. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated Stanford type A acute aortic dissection with cardiac tamponade and right airway bleeding. Hemorrhage from ruptured false lumen extended along the pulmonary artery (PA), compression of the right PA were recognized due to hematoma surrounding the PA. An emergency operation was performed. The primary tear was located at the distal aortic arch, and total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk was performed. During the operation, she had airway bleeding. The bleeding was thought to be due to the hematoma extending along the pulmonary artery. She was extubated 7th postopratively. She was discharged 44 days after the operation.

A 69-year-old woman developed back pain was brought to our hospital. She was diagnosed with acute Stanford type B aortic dissection, and had a history of ascending aortic replacement for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection at another hospital 10 years before. In three days after admission, enhanced computer tomography (CT) revealed ruptured aortic dissection at the distal arch. Total aortic arch replacement was performed using the frozen elephant trunk technique. The Dacron polyester fabric prosthesis and aorta were anastomosed using the modified turn-up method at the distal anastomosis. Due to the fragility of the oesophageal side, the pleural flap was detached with the surrounding fatty tissue and transection was performed from the elephant trunk to the intima, adventitia, pleural flap, and felt strip. The use of an autologous pleural flap is a simple and effective method for controlling bleeding in a ruptured aortic dissection and for the distal anastomosis of fragile adventitia.

A 45-year-old man complaining of chest and back pain due to acute aortic dissection was referred to our department. A contrast enhanced computed tomography( CT) scan showed Stanford type B aortic dissection with Kommerell diverticulum and aberrant right subclavian artery. The patient underwent antihypertensive treatment for one month. Despite the successful treatment, CT scan revealed a 5 mm false lumen dilatation in this period. We decided to close the primary entry. The operation was performed through median sternotomy;after establishing cardio-pulmonary bypass, the ostium of the aberrant right subclavian artery( ARSA) was sutured closed and anastomosed the ARSA and right common carotid artery. Total arch replacement was performed using frozen elephant trunk technique. His postoperative course was uneventful.

We report a case of pseudoaneurysms at the anastomotic sites after prosthetic graft replacement for Immunogloblin G4 (IgG4)-related thoracic aortic aneurysm. A 69-year-old male patient underwent ascending and aortic arch replacement and open stent graft insertion. Five months after the surgery, pseudoaneurysms at the anastomosis to the brachiocephalic artery and to the left common carotid artery developed, and urgency surgery was performed. The right common carotid artery, the right subclavian artery, and the left common carotid artery were individually reconstructed with grafts, and the anastomoses were wrapped with grafts. In IgG4-related aneurysms, complete resection of the diseased tissue and reinforcement of the anastomosis, such as anastomotic wrapping, are important to prevent anastomotic site failure. While serum IgG4 had normalized after the first surgery, C-reactive protein (CRP) remained elevated until the reoperation. Thus, CRP is considered one of the biomarkers for disease activity in IgG4-related vascular disease.

A 69-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm with right aortic arch and isolated left subclavian artery. We chose staged hybrid repair to avoid the risk of spinal cord injury and bilateral recurrent nerve paralysis. First, ascending aorta replacement with elephant trunk and reconstruction of the cervical branches were underwent. Second, we performed the thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic arch and descending aortic aneurysm. The postoperative course was satisfactory and, computed tomography (CT) showed successful aortic repair without any type of endoleak. He was discharged on the ninth day after the second operation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of surgical repair for an aortic aneurysm with right aortic arch and isolated subclavian artery.

Frozen elephant trunk( FET) technique is an effective procedure used to repair aortic arch aneurysm and aortic dissection. We modified FET technique in order to reduce bleeding, which we named "delayed deployment technique." This procedure is performed in the following manner: 1. A tube graft is anastomosed to the proximal descending aorta using open distal method. 2. A FET is deployed within the tube graft and the descending aorta. 3. Proximal end of the inner FET and the outer tube graft is trimmed at the same position. 4. A four-branched graft is anastomosed to doubly layered distal grafts. Since the FET is directly connected to the arch graft, anastomotic site in the proximal descending aorta can be free from direct blood flow. In addition, stent portion of the FET supports the aortic anastomosis from inside. We believe this method is useful for hemostasis.

A 42-year-old woman with dysphagia was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed Kommerell diverticulum( KD) associated with right aortic arch( RAA) and aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSCA). We performed total arch replacement (TAR) using a frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique. We ligated ALSCA at the distal portion of the KD after perfusing from a 8 mm tubular graft from left axillar artery. We inserted a FET from the ascending aorta to avoid locating the nonstented portion at the steep-angled site of RAA. Postoperatively dysphagia disappeared and CT scan showed complete exclusion of KD without leakage of the stent graft and successful reconstruction of the arch. The TAR and FET technique is an effective procedure for KD with RAA and ALSCA.

An 86-year-old man was hospitalized urgently to our department because of his worsening hemoptysis. He had undergone open thoracic aortic grafting for the Stanford type B chronic aortic dissecting aneurysm 30 years earlier. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed the distal anastomotic aneurysm, leakage of the contrast medium around the distal anastomotic site. We urgently performed thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair( TEVAR) for the distal anastomotic aneurysm. TEVAR was done under local anesthesia because of his poor respiratory condition due to hemoptysis. He recovered well without hemoptysis. Patients after open aortic surgery are expected to survive longer. Thus, special attention should be paid to the occurrence of anastomotic aneurysms.

A 76-year-old man with thoracic aortic aneurysm was admitted to our hospital. Aortic arch replacement was performed uneventfully. He suffered from abdominal pain 17 days after the operation. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a strangulated bowel obstruction, and we performed emergent open abdominal surgery. During the operation, we found an adhesion between the greater omentum and the retroperitoneum. The small intestine was intussuscepted into this site, and strangulated with necrosis of a 35-cm length. We performed a partial resection of the small intestine. We encountered rare strangulated bowel obstruction after open heart surgery due to adhesion of the great omentum in a patient without a history of abdominal surgery.

The patient was a 60-year-old woman who underwent thoracoabdominal aorta replacement for type B aortic dissection three years ago and aortic root replacement and total aortic arch replacement due to asymptomatic type A aortic dissection two years previously. Her clinical course was uneventful until follow-up computed tomography (CT) disclosed anastomotic insufficiency in the innominate artery and left main coronary artery stenosis owing to hematoma. Emergent percutaneous coronary intervention and stent graft insertion into the innominate artery were performed successfully. Seven months later, however, CT scan revealed a perforation in the posterior wall of the artificial graft damaged by the edge of the implanted stent graft. The patient underwent open surgery and perforation of artificial graft was sutured and redundant stent graft edge was resected. Artificial graft damage by stent graft placement is rare to date, but may increase in the future in accordance with broader application of endovascular treatment.

Surgical outcomes for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) have been improving, but mortality rate remains about 10% in the last decade. Based on the current literatures including American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) expert consensus, we presented the latest treatments and our surgical strategies for ATAAD. This section states about cannulation strategies for cardio-pulmonary bypass, aortic root managements, aggressive arch strategies, distal anastomosis strategies and the managements of malperfusion syndrome. We recommended the ascending aorta using the Seldinger technique as the cannulation site. As the aortic root management, valve resuspension is effective, but valve-sparing aortic root repair may be an option for young patients with annulo-aortic ectasia, intimal tear located in Valsalva sinus or Valsalva sinus rupture. The tear-oriented surgery is the standard for the range of the graft replacement, however, aggressive arch repair is also good indication for young patients. Distal anastomoses are felt sandwich technique for hemi-arch replacement or partial arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk is useful to total arch replacement. Early reperfusion strategies were important to the malperfusion syndrome of coronary arteries, supra-aortic vessels and superior mesenteric artery. To the dissected common carotid arteries (CCAs), early reperfusion and direct reconstruction of CCAs were effective.

We report a case of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for mid-aortic syndrome, which is characterized by a segmental narrowing of the aorta, in a 71-year-old man who presented with intermittent claudication. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed segmental stenosis of the descending aorta, for which TEVAR was performed. The ankle-branchial index increased after surgery, and the dorsalis pedis arterial pulses became palpable bilaterally. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 14 without any complication. At present, four years after surgery, he is in good condition with improved renal function, requiring no hospitalization for the treatment of heart failure.

Traumatic thoracic aortic injury is a life-threatening event and needs emergency treatment. Blunt aortic injury( BAI) is one of the major traumatic aortic injuries and is the second most common cause of death due to non-penetrating trauma. Most of the BAI patients die before reaching the hospital. Patients who survive until hospital arrival might be salvageable, however, multiple injuries can progress to lethal aortic rupture without definitive treatment. We present 4 cases of BAI, who successfully treated by stent graft repair in 2 cases and open surgical repair in 2 cases. We highlighted the key point of BAI including the diagnosis, timing of the surgery, types of surgery and risk scoring.

A 57-year-old man presented to the hospital with dyspnea. A diagnosis of hypertensive heart failure was made, and treatment was initiated. However, his ankle-brachial index had decreased to 0.61 on the right and 0.56 on the left side, and he had intermittent claudication with decreased renal function( serum creatinine, 1.73 mg/dl). Thoracoabdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed severe stenosis with a diameter of 2.2 mm in the distal arch and marked development of collateral vessels, and a diagnosis of aortic stenosis was made. Vascular catheterization revealed a pressure gradient of 60 mmHg between the upper and lower extremities. We performed a left-sided open thoracotomy and left subclavian-descending aortic bypass( 16 mm J Graft, Shield). The patient recovered without postoperative complications, and the pressure gradient between the upper and lower extremities eventually decreased to 6 mmHg.

No case report about takotsubo cardiomyopathy with Stanford type A acute dissection is present in the literature. Here we report a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy that was diagnosed following Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. A 65-year-old man was admitted with dyspnea. He had experienced acute chest pain 10 days prior. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed Stanford type A aortic dissection and primary entry tear in the proximal aortic arch with a thrombosed false lumen in the ascending aorta. Echocardiography revealed takotsubo-like wall motion, with an ejection fraction (EF) of 20%. Electrocardiography (ECG) showed ST-segment elevation in V2-V3. Subsequently, coronary artery disease was excluded by coronary CT. After 1 month, ECG findings and EF appeared normal. Thirty-five days after admission, aortic arch replacement was performed with the frozen elephant trunk technique. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be considered as a possible complication of acute aortic dissection with ST-segment elevation.

A 78-year-old female presented to our institution with a dry cough and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography( CT) revealed tracheal stenosis caused by compression from a brachiocephalic artery with a bovine aortic arch. Subsequently, surgery was performed in which the brachiocephalic artery was resected, and a total arch replacement using a four-branched graft was completed. We paid particular attention to the graft branches, making sure to avoid contact with the trachea. Both the patient's cough and dyspnea dissipated after the surgery, and a CT revealed the tracheal stenosis had been completely relieved. The patient has remained in good condition for the past three years since the surgery showing no respiratory symptoms or thoracic aortic disease. Because the bovine aortic arch is a known risk factor for thoracic aortic disease, rather than simply reconstructing the brachiocephalic artery, we chose a more aggressive surgical treatment to prevent any possible future thoracic aortic disease.

Although the efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair( TEVAR) for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) has been reported, the determination of the proper endograft size for TEVAR in BTAI cases is yet to be established. The management of BTAI by TEVAR may not be effective if a wrong endograft size is selected, possibly leading to fatal outcomes. In this case report, a hemodynamically unstable patient with BTAI was saved by TEVAR, and the preoperative and postoperative changes in the aortic diameter were compared. In TEVAR for BTAI, the effects of hemodynamic instability should be considered and the appropriate device size should be determined based on blood pressure, pulse, and inferior vena cava diameter.

We report a case of an 80-year-old man complaining of dysphagia followed by aspiration pneumonia. Computed tomography of the chest revealed Kommerell's diverticulum associated with the right-sided aortic arch and the vascular ring which was formed by the aortic arch, the left subclavian artery, the ductus arteriosus, and the pulmonary artery around the esophagus and the trachea. Enlargement of the diverticulum was considered to be the cause of dysphagia. The surgery was performed at 20 ℃ under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. We performed resection of the Kommerell's diverticulum, reconstruction of the left subclavian artery, and transection of the ductus arteriosus to relieve the compression by the esophagus and the trachea. The postoperative course was uneventful and dysphagia disappeared.

Surgeries for non-dissected aortic arch diseases have been performed with increasing frequency in recent years. Accordingly, the awareness of the pitfalls in reoperation after a previous ascending aortic replacement is needed. Indications for redo total aortic arch replacement after a prior ascending aortic replacement include pseudoaneurysm formation at the distal anastomosis site and newly developed aortic arch aneurysms. At reoperation, we should take the assurance of safety during re-sternotomy into consideration. Cannulation sites should be strategically selected. The radiologic features of the high-risk re-sternotomy include a close approximation( <5 mm) between the sternum and the aorta or the previously placed vascular prosthesis and a presence of pseudoaneurysm underneath the sternum. In such cases, it is reasonable to establish partial cardiopulmonary bypass and selective cerebral perfusion via bilateral carotid artery cannulation prior to sternotomy to avoid disastrous neurological complications. Adhesions around a previously placed vascular prosthesis with innominate vein or main pulmonary artery can be troublesome;thus, care must be taken so as not to injure the surrounding vital organs. Liberal employment of hypothermia can be life-saving by preserving brain, heart and other vital end-organs at the expense of prolonged procedure time.

A 31-year-old woman was referred to our institution because of aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) six months after the descending aortic replacement for acute aortic dissection. We operated one-stage repair of the AEF. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy was firstly performed in prone position from right thoracic cavity, and then the esophagus was reconstructed with gastric conduit via posterior mediastinal route with omental flap. Secondly, graft replacement of the descending aorta using lateral oblique straight incision was performed and the graft was covered with omental flap simultaneously. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she started oral intake on the 13th day after surgery. Although the one-stage surgery for the AEF is highly invasive, it could be a good option for selected cases.

Redo or repetitive surgeries for residual distal dissection after the limited proximal aortic repair for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection remains challenging. Depending on targeted aortic segments, the strategy including a median or lateral approach and one or two-staged repairs would be determined with careful consideration for patient's age and conditions of the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney. Given the aortic arch involved, for young and low-risk patients, an aggressive one-stage repair of the entire arch to descending aorta through a left thoracotomy is attempted. In particular, with our left antero-axillary approach, it would be much easier with a better surgical field from the ascending aorta to the descending/thoracoabdominal aortic segments. Meanwhile, two-staged repairs are more beneficial for elderly higher-risk patients, which consists of the first total arch replacement (TAR) with elephant trunk (ET) through a median sternotomy followed secondly by an open descending/thoracoabdominal aortic repair through a left thoracotomy or by less-invasive thoracic endovascular aortic repair. In additions, TAR with a frozen ET (FET) has been a new option for downstream aortic remodeling. Consequently, in the initial repair, TAR with FET or ET has been more aggressively performed to prevent such troublesome behaviors of the residual aortic dissection.

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare disease, for which early treatment is recommended due to the risk of rupture often resulting in severe consequences. We report a case of successful treatment of an asymptomatic BAA by selective branch embolization combined with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). A 68-year-old man was accidentally found to have a bronchial artery aneurysm by computed tomography. The distance from the origin of the bronchial artery to the aneurysm was only 6 mm, at which branches were found. The BAA was completely excluded by selective branch coil embolization and deployment of a thoracic stent graft to cover the orifice of the BAA. Angiography confirmed that there was no endoleak. Selective branch embolization of BAA combined with TEVAR is effective to completely occlude the blood stream to BAA.

This is the case of 50s female with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection who underwent emergent total arch replacement. The aortic arch was transected just distal to the left subclavian artery, followed by the insertion of J Graft Frozenix into the descending aorta. No blood pressure gradient was observed between the radial and femoral arteries immediately after the operation. Nevertheless, intermittent claudication was observed after a week. Ankle-brachial index( ABI) measurement was calculated at 0.7 in both legs. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a kinking of the non-stented part of the endograft. Subsequently, thoracic endovascular aortic repair( TEVAR) was performed. As a result, ABI measurement normalized and lower limb pain disappeared. Three years after, CT showed that the endograft expanded satisfactorily. In deployment of J Graft Frozenix, the non-stented part should be kept as short as possible. For kinking, TEVAR should be considered the initial treatment option.

A 26-year-old man with relapsing polychondritis was admitted for the treatment of multiple thoracic aortic aneurysms in the ascending and descending aorta. Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm showed rapid expansion, therefore, the patient underwent an extended thoracic aortic repair from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta via anterolateral thoracotomy and partial sternotomy. Although postoperative course was uneventful, aortic root enlargement and severe aortic insufficiency progressed over the next two years. He and his family refused redo surgical intervention and the patient died of heart failure. Careful perioperative follow-up may be mandatory in a patient with relapsing polychondritis complicated by cardiovascular disease.

A shaggy aorta with a mobile atheromatous plaque in a thoracic lesion is considered a risk factor for cerebral infarction during aortic arch surgery. The brain isolation technique was introduced to prevent embolic stroke either by manipulating the severely atheromatous aorta, or by producing a sandblasting effect using the arterial jet in cardiopulmonary bypass. We performed total arch replacement with the aid of a brain isolation technique in four patients with aortic arch aneurysm complicated with a shaggy aorta between 2016 and 2020. Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion was established prior to systemic perfusion of the cardiopulmonary bypass. Total arch replacement using the frozen elephant technique was performed in all patients. There was no operative mortality, and all patients were discharged without major neurological complications. Therefore, the brain isolation technique could be a useful adjunctive method to prevent embolic stroke in patients who undergo total arch replacement for aortic arch aneurysm with a shaggy aorta.

Twenty-six patients underwent total arch replacement for Stanford type A aortic dissection, including that with elephant trunk technique (ET group, n=10) or with frozen elephant trunk technique (FET group, n=16). We compared preoperative and intraoperative findings, postoperative results and distal aortic arch remodeling between the two groups. In FET group, anesthesia time, operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, cardiac arrest time and circulatory arrest time were significantly shorter than ET group. Also, intra-operative blood transfusion amount was significantly smaller than ET group. In FET group, the ratio of true lumen area and thrombosis rate of false lumen at the distal arch level were significantly higher than ET group. Other postoperative results were almost similar between the two groups.