Abstract:
Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection in a patient with severe pectus excavatum constitutes
a surgical emergency and presents a major challenge for the surgeon. Decisions
must be made regarding the operative approach and whether the pectus excavatum should
be corrected during the same session.
Herein, we describe a case of acute aortic dissection in a patient who had Marfan syndrome
with severe pectus excavatum. Combined partial upper sternotomy and left anterior
thoracotomy provided excellent surgical exposure, and the aortic root and ascending
aorta were completely replaced. The procedures were successful, and the patient recovered.
Technical and surgical considerations led us to postpone concomitant correction of
the pectus excavatum. (Tex Heart Inst J 2007;34:240-3)
