A surgically treated case of Takayasu's arteritis complicated by aortic dissections localized in the ascending and abdominal aortae

Because complication by aortic dissection is markedly rare in patients with Takayasu's arteritis, a limited number of reports have been published rega rding surgically treated cases of Takayasu's arteritis that is complicated by aortic dissection. When graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aor tic arch and extra-anatomic bypass grafting were performed in a 72-year-old Japanese woman with Takayasu's arteritis, which was complicated by aortic dissections localized in the ascending and abdominal aortae, the postoperat ive course of this patient was satisfactory. It was considered that the med ia became friable in this patient because of the presence of Takayasu's art eritis and that hypertension that persisted for a long time caused the inde pendent development of aortic dissections in the ascending and abdominal ao rtae.