Population and pre-operative assessment
Since January 2018 until December 2019, 8 patients (6 males; mean age
67.7±16 years, range 50‐83 years) have been referred to our institution
to undergo total arch replacement with a possible, or already advised,
need for treatment of the distal aorta. Five, 60 years old or younger,
underwent emergency surgery for acute aortic dissection (AAD) with
intimal tear in the arch convexity. The remaining 3 suffered from
chronic aortic disease involving the arch and the descending thoracic
aorta: one expansive aneurysm and 2 chronic dissections. None of the 8
patients needed additional cardiac repairs.
Pre-operative diagnostic tools included TTE and CT-scan in all cases.
Coronary angiography was performed only in the elective cases. An
intra-operative TEE was always obtained, as a routine practice in our
center.