TREATMENT: ASCENDING / HEMI ARCH

Ascending aortic aneurysms start above the level of the coronary arteries and become of normal size before the vessels going to the head and neck.

The operation involves an incision through the middle of the sternum. The patient is placed on the heart lung machine and the ascending aorta is removed and replaced with a Dacron graft. If the aneurysm extends into the first part of the arch, a hemiarch replacement is done. Working on the aortic arch  involves complex management of the patient’s blood flow to the head and lower body.

Pictured Left: Illustration of completed ascending aortic and hemi arch repair.
Pictured Right: Intraoperative photograph of large ascending aortic aneurysm.