An aged case of successful repair for the ruptured distal aortic arch aneurysm associated with aortic regurgitation: a case report

Ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm had severely high mortality. A 83-year-old female, who had suddenly complained back pain and been diagnosed as the ruptured distal aortic arch aneurysm with aortic regurgitation by computer tomography and echo cardiogram, was admitted for an emergent surgery. Aortic arch replacement and aortic valve replacement were performed through median sternotomy under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with the retrograde cerebral perfusion. She was complicated with respiratory ventilation failure due to the massive mediastinal hematoma and her chest was kept open postoperatively. Her chest was closed two days after the first operation and she recovered uneventfully.