Total aortic arch replacement for ruptured aortic arch aneurysm in a 93-year-old woman

Abstract

Semi-emergency total aortic arch replacement was performed in a 93-year-old woman with rupture of a true saccular aneurysm at the distal aortic arch. The patient had lived by herself before surgery. She was successfully treated and showed no post-operative cerebral complications. Total aortic arch replacement must be carefully planned, because this surgery is highly invasive and is associated with a high rate of complications. This surgery is sometimes inevitably performed as a life-saving procedure in very old patients. The surgical outcome however, is less favorable. Although we used the "Eaves" technique during surgery to decrease post-operative bleeding, the surgical invasiveness itself was not reduced. Further effort is needed to develop innovative procedures.