Graft replacement from ascending aorta to descending aorta with endovascular stent graft under median sternotomy

We reported a 62-year-old man with DeBakey IIIa dissecting aortic aneurysm involving distal aortic arch who underwent graft replacement from ascending to descending aorta using a endovascular stent graft. Median sternotomy was carried out, because of severe pleural adhesion. Endovascular stent graft composed of 30 mm Gianturco Z stent and 24 mm woven Dacron graft was inserted to descending aorta with the aid of hypothermia, systemic circulation arrest and selective cerebral perfusion. Transesophageal echocardiography was used to measure the diameter and the length of descending aorta and the graft. And ascending and total aortic arch replacement was performed with four branched woven Dacron graft. Postoperative chest CT and aortography showed satisfactory reconstruction with the thrombosed false lumens. We think placement of stent graft to descending aorta through median sternotomy is useful method when left thoracotomy is impossible or distal anastomotic site is too far for the anastomosis.