BACKGROUND Conventional surgical repair of thoracic aortic dissections is a challenge due to mortality and morbidity risks. OBJECTIVES We analyzed our experience in hybrid aortic arch repair for complex dissections of the aortic arch. METHODS Between 2009 and 2013, 18 patients (the mean age of 67 ± 8 years-old) underwent hybrid aortic arch repair. The procedural strategy was determined on t...

I read with great interest this article describing a total aortic root and arch replacement in a patient with Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS) [1]. There is no doubt that this case was a monumental effort and a tribute to their cardiac surgical programme. There is already a sufficient body of literature validating valvesparing root replacements in children with connective tissue disorders [2–4], so t...

Interrupted aortic arch is a rare congenital malformation of the aortic arch defined as a loss of luminal continuity between the ascending and descending portions of the aorta. In a simple interrupted aortic arch, only a ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus are observed. We present a rare complex form of type A interrupted aorta with an aortopulmonary window, an atrial septal ...

Double aortic arch (DAA) is the most common congenital anomaly of the aortic arch system, in which the trachea and esophagus are completely encircled by connected segments of the aortic arch and its branches, often resulting in variable airway compression. We present a case of fetal DAA prenatally diagnosed by fetal echocardiography and clearly confirmed at autopsy. The autopsy visualization al...

The anatomy of the aortic arch is variable, and its detailed analysis on computed tomography (CT) scan may be difficult. Indeed, its curvature, angulations, length of horizontal portion, and origin of supra-aortic trunks (SAT) may vary among individuals. Furthermore, drastic modifications of the patient’s anatomy may be observed after open or endovascular surgery and in case of congenital abnor...

Floating thrombi in the aortic arch are very rare and an unusual source of systemic embolism. Herein, a case of a 3-cm thrombus in the aortic arch is reported. It was a floating, highly mobile thrombus attached to the lesser curvature of the aortic arch. The patients had a hypercoagulable disorder induced by protein C and S deficiency. The thrombus was operatively removed with a favorable outcome.

We report an extremely rare case of pulmonary artery dissection caused by an abrupt rupture of an aortic arch aneurysm into the pulmonary artery. An asymptomatic 80-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for elective surgical repair of aortic arch aneurysm. After admission, sudden onset of hoarseness and dyspnea developed. Echocardiography demonstrated an intimal flap in the pulmonary artery...

This report describes a case in which a persistent third aortic arch connection partly palliated interruption of the aortic arch. The malformation occurred without other cardiovascular abnormality in a newborn infant in whom the principal diagnostic clinical finding was the absence of all peripheral pulses except for those of the right brachial and carotid arteries. Echocardiographic and angioc...

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the key points for safe performance of transradial angiography. CONCLUSIONS Transradial angiography can be performed safely if attention is paid to the following points from after radial artery puncture to reaching the aortic arch: resistance during guide wire operation for sheath insertion after puncture; confirmation of the superficial brachial artery; guide wire resi...

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of total endovascular repair of the aortic arch in pigs using improved integrated double-branched stent grafts. METHODS Improved self-expandable stent grafts with a main body and two integrated branches were prepared for the repair of the aortic arch in six pigs. The feasibility of using these stent grafts was evaluated with arteriogra...