Surgical treatment for annuloaortic ectasia in Takayasu arteritis

Annuloaortic ectasia (AAE) associated with aortic regurgitation (AR) is a rare involvement in Takayasu arteritis. There are many difficult problems in surgical treatment of this lesion because of its inflammatory nature. We developed a composite graft repair technique to avoid complications associated with Bentall type procedures for treatment of AAE+AR. The technique consists of a double proximal suturing and direct coronary artery reimplantation as a Carrel patch without wrapping. Eight patients (one male, seven females) received this composite graft repair for treatment of AAE+AR due to Takayasu arteritis. Of them, two patients were in active phase. There was one hospital death probably due to ventricular arrhythmia, however, no late death occurred. And there were no late complications related to operative procedures. Thus, our composite graft repair technique for treatment of AAE+AR in Takayasu arteritis can prevent major complications associated with Bentall type procedures. However, close serial follow-up, careful control of inflammation, and early detection and treatment of other vascular involvements are necessary in the postoperative management of patients with Takayasu arteritis.