Restoration of cerebral blood flow by extraanatomic bypass in acute aortic dissection.

This report describes a case of acute type A aortic dissection which had resulted in coma. Angiography had revealed obstruction of the right common carotid artery. Since signs of impending aortic rupture or severe aortic insufficiency were missing, an extraanatomic femoro-carotid bypass was inserted and resulted in the patient's regaining consciousness. Two days after the first operation, the ascending aorta and aortic valve were reconstructed successfully anastomosing the divided caudad end of the bypass to the ascending aortic graft.