Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Surgery: Disease processes affecting the ascending the aorta can result in fatal complications for the patient. The 2 commonest conditions affecting the aorta are:

1. Dilation of the proximal aorta due to weakness in its wall structure. This dilatation can cause massive increase in the size of the aorta and leaking of the aortic valve.

2. Dissection of the Aorta: The aorta is the first organ which takes the full force of blood ejected from the heart. Sometimes this can result in a tear in the wall of the aorta thereby causing a dissection within the layers of the aorta.

Both these conditions are life threatening and require operation to deal with the aortic pathology and also with the leaking aortic valve. Treatment of these conditions require a very major operation to remove the diseased aorta and replace it with a synthetic graft. At the same time the valve can be repaired or replaced if needed. This operation is commonly done at AHI and in the last 45 patients that have been operated, all have survived. The accompanying pictures have been taken intra – operatively.