Simultaneous multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting, ischemic mitral regurgitation repair and descending aortic aneurysm replacement: analysis of technical points.

The combination of coronary artery disease and its complications (ischemic mitral regurgitation etc.) with the aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta is not a rare case. The single-stage correction of coronary/intracardiac/aortic lesions may be considered as a way of managing the combined patients. Simultaneous multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting, suture mitral annuloplasty and descending aortic aneurysm replacement with synthetic prosthesis is described. The operation was performed through the left thoracotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass established by the cannulation of the ascending aorta and of the right atrial appendage. Ventricular fibrillation and no clamping of the ascending aorta were used. The circulatory arrest was induced for the construction of the proximal anastomosis between the descending aorta and the synthetic prosthesis. No complications related to the operation were diagnosed for the 14-month follow-up. Several technical points seem optimal for the combined procedure: (1) Minimization of manipulations on the ascending aorta (using of pedicled left internal thoracic artery; construction of the proximal anastomoses with synthetic aortic prosthesis; unclamped ascending aorta). (2) Revascularization of all coronary areas and correction of intracardiac lesions through the left thoracotomy. Individual planning of the procedural technical points for every patient may provide a safe feasibility of the combined procedure.