TAILORING AORTOPLASTY FOR REPAIR OF FUSIFORM ASCENDING AORTIC-ANEURYSMS

To evaluate the effectiveness of tailoring aortoplasty used to treat fusiform aneurysms of the ascending aorta, we reviewed the results of operation in 17 patients. Nine patients had tailoring aortoplasty alone, and 8 patients had aortoplasty with Dacron wrap of the ascending aorta. Fourteen of 17 patients were discharged from the hospital, and 12 patients were alive at follow-up between 2 and 120 months. Of two late deaths, neither was due to aneurysmal disease. Actuarial survival at 1 and 10 years was 81% and 63%, respectively. In selected cases, tailoring aortoplasty can achieve long-term results comparable with those of resection and graft replacement of fusiform ascending aortic aneurysms.