A challenging case of emergency redo surgery for acute type A aortic dissecting aneurysm of ascending and aortic arch with frozen elephant trunk following aortic root replacement

TL;DR

This paper describes a high-risk emergency redo surgery for a complex aortic aneurysm in a 72-year-old patient with a prior aortic root replacement.

Contribution

The novelty lies in the successful application of the frozen elephant trunk technique in a challenging redo aortic surgery case.

Findings

Emergency redo surgery using the frozen elephant trunk technique was successfully performed.

The patient presented with acute Type A aortic dissection and left hemothorax.

The case highlights the importance of appropriate surgical strategies in high-risk redo aortic surgeries.

Abstract

Redo ascending and aortic arch surgeries following previous cardiac or aortic surgery are associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality due to multiple factors included sternal re-entry injury, extensive aortic arch surgery, emergency aortic surgery, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration, poor heart function, and patients with older age. Therefore, appropriate surgical strategies are important. We report a case of a 72-year-old gentleman with previous surgery of aortic root replacement who presented with acute Type A aortic dissecting aneurysm of ascending and aortic arch complicated with left hemothorax, which was successfully treated by emergency redo aortic surgery with frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique.

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