Off-pump extraanatomic bypass from the ascending to the descending aorta for re-operation of interrupted aortic arch in an adolescent

J Card Surg. 2009 Sep-Oct;24(5):541-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2008.00798.x. Epub 2009 Jun 15.

Abstract

The appearance of re-stenosis after repair of an interrupted aortic arch may be a surgical challenge due to adhesions. Here, we describe an approach using off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting techniques to reach the descending aorta through a median sternotomy in a patient with aortic arch stenosis after conduit repair. The 17-year-old patient with diagnoses of interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect presented after two previous operations (one left lateral thoracotomy and one median sternotomy) with a stenosed vascular graft between ascending and descending aorta. Surgery was done via re-sternotomy without cardio-pulmonary bypass. An extraanatomic graft was used to connect ascending and descending aorta. When performing the distal anastomosis, the heart was exposed using a standard suction device. This case demonstrates that the use of modern techniques may facilitate surgical approaches dramatically. In our opinion the above-described technique is the first choice for all patients requiring arch repair following multiple previous operations, performed via sternotomy and thoracotomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aorta, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / surgery*
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass / methods*
  • Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Reoperation
  • Sternotomy / methods
  • Thoracotomy / methods