We report a rare case of surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection with expansion of the false lumen. The patient was a 72-year-old man without any motor paresis who underwent total aortic arch replacement with two-vessel perfusion of SCP and mild hypothermic circulatory arrest for the lower half of the body. Postoperatively, the patient had tetraparesis which was more severe than in his lower extremities, whereas the sensory function was preserved. It was assumed that the anterior horns of the spinal cord were injured longitudinally due to insufficient blood flow of the anterior spinal artery through the SCP. This case suggests that three-vessel perfusion of SCP is important in surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection for the prevention of intraoperative ischemic spinal cord injury.

Between March 1985 and May 1988 we performed valve replacement to 86 cases using 92 Duromedics prosthetic valves in the atrioventricular position. Long term results were obtained, we examined the problem (especially thrombosed valve). The cumulative follow-up was 313.6 patients-year (p-y). The 6-year actuarial survival rate including early mortality was 83.4±4.1%. The valve-related complications were as follows; peripheral embolism 3 cases (1.0%/p-y), thrombosed valve 7 cases (2.2%/p-y), hemorrhage and paravalvular leakage each 1 case (0.3%/p-y). All valve-related complications were 12 cases (3.8%/p-y). Reoperation for valve-related complications were 5 cases (1.6%/p-y), it was all to thrombosed prosthetic valve. Thrombosed valve were seen 7 cases (4 cases in mitral, 3 cases in tricuspid position). The event free rate of thrombosed valve was 89.1±4.0%. It was high incidence in tricuspid position. We concluded that it was necessary to be done early reoperation the time of fixed with one leaflet alone.