CONSERVATIVE OPERATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANNULAR DILATATION AND ASCENDING AORTIC-ANEURYSM

Ascending aortic aneurysm associated with annular dilatation is genera lly handled by resection and replacement of the aortic root. Such an e xtensive operation may be avoided by a much simpler surgical intervent ion, ie, aortoplasty, valve replacement, and aortic wall reinforcement . Such an operation may be performed in cases where the shape of the a neurysm is a relatively regular ''pear'' or ''teardrop'' shape and is not extremely large. It also may be applied in cases of aortic stenosi s with post-stenotic dilatation. The procedure requires barely more op erative time and effort than a ''simple'' aortic valve replacement.