[The Strategy for Aortic Root Pathology Due to Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection].

The surgical outcomes of aortic root replacement for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection( AAAD) remain unacceptable with a 30-day mortality rate of 20%. Additionally, in young patients requiring aortic root replacement for AAAD, the preservation of native valve is desirable, yet challenging to achieve in emergent surgery with poor preoperative status. Ideally, we aim to avoid aortic root replacement whenever possible, opting instead for partial remodeling even in cases necessitating incision into the aortic root. We present our surgical outcomes in the strategy for aortic root pathology due to AAAD. We conducted an analysis of 517 cases of AAAD surgery from 2002 to 2023, wherein 499 cases( 96%) underwent aortic root preservation, 10 cases( 1.9%) underwent partial remodeling, and 8 cases( 1.5%)necessitated emergent aortic root replacement. Of these, 13 cases underwent aortic root replacement after AAAD repair( 8 David procedures and 5 Bentall procedures), all demonstrating favorable surgical outcomes, including long-term results. We believe that this strategy for aortic root pathology holds significant merit, particularly in AAAD in young patients with enlarged aortic root.

[The Long Outcome of the Left Atrial Appendage Preserving Maze Procedure].

We retrospectively study the outcome of left atrial appendage (LAA) preserving maze procedure, focus on thrombus formation in left atrium( LA), postoperative stroke, and LA function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 131 patients (mean age, 68.2y;77 men and 54 women) who underwent maze procedure for atrial fibrillation( Af) between 2008 and 2020. Full maze was performed for 116 patients with long-standing persistent Af or persistent Af. Pulmonary vein isolation alone was performed for 15 patients with paroxysmal Af. The mean follow-up period was 2.9( 10.1-0.4) years. RESULTS: In perioperative results, there were no death, cerebral infarction, and reoperation in this series. At discharge, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years after the surgery, sinus rhythm was maintained in 92%, 87%, 83%, 77%. Pacemaker was implanted in 8( early 3, late 5) patients. Despite adequate anticoagulant therapy, one patient developed cerebral infarction a month postoperatively. In other patients, there was no cerebral infarction in short-term nor long-term. CONCLUSIONS: The LAA preserving maze procedure was not a risk factor of cerebral infarction under appropriate medication. However, close follow-up is essential.

Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Severe Aortic Stenosis　- A Report From the CURRENT AS Registry.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) has not been well addressed in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).Methods and Results:We analyzed 3,815 patients from a retrospective multicenter registry of severe AS in Japan (CURRENT AS registry). We compared the clinical outcomes between patients with moderate/severe MR and with none/mild MR according to the initial treatment strategy (initial aortic valve replacement [AVR] or conservative strategy). The primary outcome measure was a composite of aortic valve-related death or heart failure hospitalization. At baseline, moderate/severe MR was present in 227/1,197 (19%) patients with initial AVR strategy and in 536/2,618 (20%) patients with a conservative strategy. The crude cumulative 5-year incidence of the primary outcome measure was significantly higher in patients with moderate/severe MR than in those with none/mild MR, regardless of the initial treatment strategy (25.2% vs. 14.4%, P<0.001 in the initial AVR strategy, and 63.3% vs. 40.7%, P<0.001 in the conservative strategy). After adjusting confounders, moderate/severe MR was not independently associated with higher risk for the primary outcome measure in the initial AVR strategy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.83, P=0.69), and in the conservative strategy (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.93-1.37, P=0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant moderate/severe MR was not independently associated with higher risk for the primary outcome measure regardless of the initial treatment strategy.

Extremely short setting of optimal sensed atrioventricular interval in patients after Fontan procedure with implanted dual-chamber pacemaker.

BACKGROUND: Atrioventricular interval optimisation is important in patients with dual-chamber pacing, especially with heart failure. In patients with CHD, especially in those with Fontan circulation, the systemic atrial contraction is supposed to be more important than in patients without structural heart disease. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated two patients after Fontan procedure with dual-chamber pacemaker with a unique setting of optimal sensed atrioventricular interval. RESULTS: The optimal sensed atrioventricular interval determined by echocardiogram was extremely short sensed atrioventricular interval at 25 and 30 ms in both cases; however, the actual P wave and ventricular pacing interval showed 180 and 140 ms, respectively. In both cases, the atrial epicardial leads were implanted on the opposite site of the origin of their own atrial rhythm. The time differences between sensed atrioventricular interval and actual P wave and ventricular pacing interval occurred because of the site of the epicardial atrial pacing leads and the intra-atrial conduction delay. CONCLUSION: We need to consider the origin of the atrial rhythm, the site of the epicardial atrial lead, and the atrial conduction delay by using electrocardiogram and X-ray when we set the optimal sensed atrioventricular interval in complicated CHD.

Early Surgery vs. Surgery After Watchful Waiting for Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: There is no large-scale study comparing postoperative mortality after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) between initial treatment with AVR vs. eventual AVR after conservative management. Methods and Results: We analyzed data from a multicenter registry enrolling 3,815 consecutive patients with severe AS. Of 1,808 asymptomatic patients, 286 patients initially underwent AVR (initial AVR group), and 377 patients were initially managed conservatively and eventually underwent AVR (AVR after watchful waiting group). Mortality after AVR was compared between the 2 groups. Subgroup analysis according to peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) at diagnosis was also conducted. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in 5-year overall survival (OS; 86.0% vs. 84.1%, P=0.34) or cardiovascular death-free survival (DFS; 91.3% vs. 91.1%, P=0.61), but on subgroup analysis of patients with Vmax ≥4.5 m/s at diagnosis, the initial AVR group was superior to the AVR after watchful waiting group in both 5-year OS (88.4% vs. 70.6%, P=0.003) and cardiovascular DFS (91.9% vs. 81.7%, P=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic severe AS patients who underwent AVR after watchful waiting had a postoperative survival rate similar to those who initially underwent AVR. In a subgroup of patients with Vmax ≥4.5 m/s at diagnosis, however, the AVR after watchful waiting group had worse postoperative survival rate than the initial AVR group.

[Successful Echo-guided Deployment of Stent Graft for Intraoperative Retrograde Aortic Dissection and Rupture;Report of a Case].

We report a case of chronic dissecting thoracoabdominal aneurysm with intraoperative retrograde aortic dissection and rupture at proximal descending aorta, which was successfully treated by echoguided stent-graft insertion. An 82-year old male underwent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement for dilatation of infra-diaphragmatic aorta. Under F-F bypass, his thoracoabdominal aorta was replaced by a Dacron graft with 4-branches. After he weaned from F-F bypass, we found massive bleeding from proximal descending aorta. Trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed aortic dissection from the clamp site to the distal anastomotic site of the former total arch replacement. We temporary got hemostasis by suture and surgical glue, and anastomosed a 10 mm-graft to the thoracoabdominal main graft as conduit, then inserted and deployed 2 pieces of stent-graft. Direct echo and TEE contributed to the accurate positioning of them. Bleeding was completely controlled. He well recovered without paraplegia. Post-operative computed tomography (CT) showed good positioning and dilatation of the stentgraft and the perfect reverse remodeling of thoracic aorta.

Comparison of the Long-Term Outcomes of Mechanical and Bioprosthetic Aortic Valves　- A Propensity Score Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) with either mechanical or bioprosthetic valves according to age at operation.Methods and Results:A total of 1,002 patients (527 mechanical valves and 475 bioprosthetic valves) undergoing first-time AVR were categorized according to age at operation: group Y, age <60 years; group M, age 60-69 years; and group O, age ≥70 years). Outcomes were compared on propensity score analysis (adjusted for 28 variables). Hazard ratio (HR) was calculated using the Cox regression model with adjustment for propensity score with bioprosthetic valve as a reference (HR=1). There were no significant differences in overall mortality between mechanical and bioprosthetic valves for all age groups. Valve-related mortality was significantly higher for mechanical valves in group O (HR, 2.53; P=0.02). Reoperation rate was significantly lower for mechanical valves in group Y (HR, 0.16; P<0.01) and group M (no events for mechanical valves). Although the rate of thromboembolic events was higher in mechanical valves in group Y (no events for tissue valves) and group M (HR, 9.05; P=0.03), there were no significant differences in bleeding events between all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The type of prosthetic valve used in AVR does not significantly influence overall mortality.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors After Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis in a Japanese Population.

BACKGROUND: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is characterized by impaired diastolic cardiac function leading to heart failure. Pericardiectomy is considered effective treatment for CP, but data on long-term clinical outcomes after pericardiectomy are limited.Methods and Results:We retrospectively investigated 45 consecutive patients (mean age, 59±14 years) who underwent pericardiectomy for CP. Preoperative clinical factors, parameters of cardiac catheterization, and cardiac events were examined. Cardiac events were defined as hospitalization owing to heart failure or cardiac death.Median follow-up was 5.7 years. CP etiology was idiopathic in 16 patients, post-cardiac surgery (CS) in 21, tuberculosis-related in 4, non-tuberculosis infection-related in 2, infarction-related in 1, and post-radiation in 1. The 5-year event-free survival was 65%. Patients with idiopathic CP and tuberculosis-related CP had favorable outcomes compared with post-CS CP (5-year event-free survival: idiopathic, 80%; tuberculosis, 100%; post-CS, 52%). Higher age (hazard ratio: 2.51), preoperative atrial fibrillation (3.25), advanced New York Heart Association class (3.92), and increased pulmonary artery pressure (1.06) were predictors of cardiac events. Patients with postoperative right-atrial pressure ≥9 mmHg had lower event-free survival than those with right-atrial pressure <9 mmHg (39% vs. 75% at 5 years, P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term clinical outcomes after pericardiectomy among a Japanese population were related to the underlying etiology and the patient's preoperative clinical condition. Postoperative cardiac catheterization may be helpful in the prediction of prognosis after pericardiectomy.

Five-Year Clinical Outcome of Asymptomatic vs. Symptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis After Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: There is discordance regarding the effect of symptom status before aortic valve replacement (AVR) on long-term outcome after AVR in severe aortic stenosis (AS).Methods and Results:The CURRENT AS registry is a multicenter retrospective registry enrolling 3,815 consecutive patients with severe AS. Among 1,196 patients managed with the initial AVR strategy, long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the symptomatic patients (n=905), and asymptomatic patients (n=291). Median follow-up interval was 1337 days with a 91% follow-up rate at 2 years. AVR was performed in 886 patients (98%) in the symptomatic group and in 287 patients (99%) in the asymptomatic group. Symptomatic patients were older and more often had comorbidities than asymptomatic patients with similar echocardiographic AS severity. The cumulative 5-year incidences of all-cause death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization were significantly higher in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (25.6% vs. 15.4%, P=0.001, and 14.2% vs. 3.8%, P<0.001, respectively). On landmark analysis at 30 days after AVR, the differences in mortality and HF hospitalization between the 2 groups were mainly observed beyond 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: When managed with the initial AVR strategy, the long-term outcomes of symptomatic severe AS were worse than those of asymptomatic severe AS. Early AVR strategy might be recommended in some selected asymptomatic severe AS patients with reasonable operative risk.

[Graft Pseudoaneurysm after Ascending to Abdominal Aorta Bypass for Atypical Coarctation Due to Aortitis Syndrome;Report of a Case].

We present a case of a 44-year-old woman, with pseudoaneurysm formation at the middle of the prosthetic graft, 60 mm in diameter. She had been diagnosed with atypical coarctation due to aortitis 27 years before, and had undergone a bypass operation with 14 mm-diameter Cooley double velour graft from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta. This time, endovascular aortic repair was performed to prevent rupture of the pseudoaneurysm. Though a knitted Dacron graft has a risk of psuedaneurysm formation long patency could be obtained when used in ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass.

Pre- and Postoperative Predictors of Long-Term Prognosis After Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: There are few data on the long-term prognosis and chronological changes in left ventricular (LV) function after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) among the Japanese population.Methods and Results:We retrospectively investigated the long-term prognosis in 80 consecutive patients with severe chronic AR who underwent AVR. Additionally, 65 patients with follow-up echocardiography at 1 year after AVR were investigated to evaluate chronological changes in LV function. The mean follow-up period was 8.9±5.2 years. Freedom from all-cause death and cardiac death at 10 years after AVR was 76% and 91%, respectively. The preoperative ejection fraction (EF) and estimated glomerular filtration rate were independent predictors of all-cause death. Preoperative EF, LV end-systolic diameter, and diabetes might be useful predictors of cardiac death. Among the 65 patients with follow-up echocardiographic data, LV function had normalized at 1 year after AVR in all patients, except for 2 who died of cardiac causes in the long-term after AVR. LV end-diastolic diameter, LV end-systolic diameter, and EF at 1 year after AVR might be useful predictors of long-term cardiac death. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe chronic AR, preoperative LV dysfunction is remarkably improved at 1 year after AVR. Pre- and postoperative echocardiographic data are important for predicting long-term outcome after AVR. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2460-2467).

Favorable Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Japanese Patients　- First Report From the Post-Approval K-TAVI Registry.

BACKGROUND: Very limited data exist on the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) since Japanese marketing approval of the first TAVI device.Methods and Results:The Kyoto University-related hospital Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (K-TAVI) registry includes prospectively collected data from 6 participating hospitals in Japan. We included 302 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI using the SAPIEN XT balloon-expandable valve via transfemoral (TF; n=203, 67%) or transapical (TA; n=99, 33%) approach between October 2013 and September 2015. Device success rate, based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria, was very high in the TF (97.0%) and TA (99.0%) groups. The 30-day mortality rates were 1.5% and 1.0% in the TF and TA groups, respectively. Major complications included stroke (transient or persistent: 2.3%), annulus rupture (1.0%), coronary intervention (1.0%), major vascular complications (1.7%), and permanent pacemaker implantation (5.4%). The procedure times of the post-proctoring period (n=210) were decreased compared with those of the proctoring period (n=89) without affecting the clinical outcomes. The survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 96.9% and 92.5% in the TF group, and 93.9% and 91.8% in the TA group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The K-TAVI registry data revealed that the early outcomes of TAVI using the SAPIEN XT were favorable in real-world Japanese patients.

Long-term durability of pericardial valves in the aortic position in younger patients: when does reoperation become necessary?

BACKGROUND: We sought to assess the long-term durability of pericardial valves in patients at age <65 years undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR), and to determine the timing of redo operations due to structural valve deterioration (SVD). METHODS: From 1986 to 2001, a total of 574 adult patients underwent AVR with pericardial valves in nine hospitals in Japan. Of these, 53 patients were at age <65 years (group Y). These patients were compared with those of age ≥ 65 (group O, n = 521). RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 9.5 years in group Y and 8.1 years in group O. Freedom from reoperation due to SVD was 100% at five years, 90.8% at 10 years, and 47.2% at 15 years in group Y, and 99.3% at five years, 97.4% at 10 years, and 94.4% at 15 years in group O (log-rank test, p < 0.01). In those who required redo AVR in group Y (n = 12), the mean time from initial operation to reoperation was 12.1 years. The reoperation-free survival curve started to decline after eight years postoperation in group Y. CONCLUSIONS: Redo AVR started to become necessary eight years after surgery in the patients who underwent AVR with pericardial valve at age <65 years. In addition, approximately half of those patients required reoperation due to SVD by 15 years postoperatively.

Long-term outcome of the carpentier-edwards pericardial valve in the aortic position in Japanese patients.

BACKGROUND: According to the Japanese Circulation Society guidelines, a bioprosthesis is recommended for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients aged ≥65 years who have no risk factors for thromboembolism. There are few data, however, regarding the actual durability of bioprosthetic valves in Japanese patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term durability of Carpentier-Edwards pericardial (CEP) valves in Japanese AVR patients, and to assess the risk factors for reoperation due to structural valve deterioration (SVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1986 to 2001, a total of 591 patients underwent AVR with CEP valves in 9 hospitals. Of these, 574 patients (mean age, 71.9±8.5 years) were analyzed in this study. There were 26 in-hospital deaths (4.5%). The 10-year follow-up rate was 82.6% and the median follow-up time was 9.2 years. Freedom from reoperation due to SVD was 99.5%, 96.7%, and 87.5% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Factors that raised the risk of reoperation due to SVD included younger age at operation and history of prior operation. In patients aged ≥65 years, freedom from reoperation due to SVD was 94.4% at 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: The durability of CEP valves in patients with AVR was excellent, especially in elderly patients. Thus, it seems appropriate to follow the current Japanese Circulation Society recommendations for the use of bioprosthetic valves.

[Aortic and mitral valve replacement via right thoracotomy in the case of a patient with severe heart failure following right pneumonectomy].

We report a case of aortic valve replacement (AVR) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) in a patient with severe left ventricular dysfunction who had undergone right pneumonectomy for lung cancer 14 years previously. A 64-year-old man had cathecolamine-dependent heart failure due to bicuspid aortic valve stenosis, functional mitral valve regurgitation and impaired left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction 13%)because of dilated cardiomyopathy. AVR and MVR were performed using St. Jude Medical mechanical valves with right thoracotomy because the heart had shifted to the right side. Poor left ventricular function and postoperative atrial fibrillation made it difficult to control low-output syndrome, but prolonged use of intra-aortic balloon pumping improved it gradually. Intraaortic balloon pumping( IABP) was removed 34 days after the operation, the respirator was removed with tracheotomy 63 days postoperatively, and the patient was discharged on the 177th postoperative day. Careful preoperative assessment and perioperative control of heart failure are important components of successful clinical management.

Technique to treat extensive abscesses in double valve replacement for prosthetic valve endocarditis.

A 52-year-old man, who underwent double valve replacement for native valve infectious endocarditis, developed prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) at nine months after the initial operation. Operative findings revealed a wide aortic annular abscess, which extended through the intervalvular fibrous body to the mitral annulus. The infected mitral valve was excised through the atrial septum. After complete debridement of the abscess, a xenopericardial patch was sutured on to the abscessed area in the partially destroyed intervalvular fibrous body. Using this procedure, the affected annuli were reinforced and the abscessed area was isolated from the blood flow, reducing the probability of recurrent endocarditis. For valve implantation, 'anchoring' sutures were threaded externally through the aortic root, taking into consideration the fragility of the reconstructed annulus. The patient recovered with intensive administration of antibiotics and showed no sign of recurrent infection. The reinforcement of the intervalvular fibrous body and the use of 'anchoring' sutures may represent good alternatives for the surgical treatment of PVE.

Long-term clinical outcomes and predictors of survival after prosthetic valve endocarditis surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to comprehend the outcomes of surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) over 25 years and to identify predictors for patient survival. METHODS: A total of 47 consecutive patients (19 males, 28 females; mean age 67.0 +/- 11.5 years) whounderwent surgery for PVE between 1986 and 2011 was analyzed. Typically, PVE appeared at 4.2 +/- 6.2 years after valve replacement. Preoperative and postoperative clinical variables were evaluated; the mean follow up was 6.4 +/- 5.3 years. RESULTS: The incidence of PVE was 3.9% for 1,185 cases of valve replacement through the study period. Operative mortality was 17.0%. NYHA functional class IV (p = 0.01), preoperative shock (p = 0.03) and renal failure (p = 0.02) were each independent predictors of operative mortality. Survival was 69.1 +/- 9.3% at 10 years and 59.2 +/- 12.1% at both 15 and 20 years. Preoperative impaired left ventricular function (p = 0.02) and preoperative renal failure (p = 0.04) were independent predictors of late mortality. Freedom from recurrent PVE remained at 82.5 +/- 6.0% from two years up to 20 years after surgery. Initial infective endocarditis (p = 0.03) and postoperative heart failure (p = 0.04) were predictors of recurrent PVE. Freedom from reoperation was 84.8 +/- 5.7% at 10 years, and 72.6 +/- 12.2% at both 15 and 20 years. CONCLUSION: This extensive examination revealed that critical preoperative conditions determine not only short-term but also long-term mortality after surgery to treat PVE. Hence, a timely surgical intervention and close follow up are crucial for patient survival.

Comparison between early and late prosthetic valve endocarditis: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is considered a time-related event. The study aim was to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of early- and late-onset PVE, and to investigate potential preventive measures for each condition. METHODS: A total of 47 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for PVE between January 1986 and December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively, and classified as an early-onset group (n = 26; PVE occurring within 12 months after previous surgery) and late-onset group (n = 21; PVE occurring after 12 months). RESULTS: The prosthetic valve position significantly affected the incidence of endocarditis: 21 cases (80.7%) in the early-onset group had infected aortic prostheses, while 18 (85.7%) in the late-onset group had infected mitral prostheses (p = 0.028). PVE significantly affected bioprosthetic valves in the early-onset group (18 cases, 69.2%) and mechanical valves in the late-onset group (17 cases, 80.9%) (p < 0.01). Staphylococcus spp. infections were predominant in the early-onset group (21 cases, 80.7%), and Streptococcus spp. in the late-onset group (five cases, 23.8%) (p = 0.03). Operative deaths occurred in both the early-onset (n = 6; 23.0%) and late-onset (n = 2; 9.5%) groups (p = 0.11). The long-term mortality in the early-onset and late-onset groups, respectively, was 40.3 +/- 17.7% and 85.1 +/- 7.9% at 10 years, and 40.3 +/- 17.7% and 72.9 +/- 13.1% at 15 years (p 0.047). Freedom from recurrent endocarditis after two years in the early- and late-onset groups, respectively, was 67.8 +/- 10.1% and 88.8 +/- 7.4% (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics and outcomes differed significantly between early- and late-onset PVE. The clinical outcomes of patients with early PVE tend to be serious, and therefore stringent care should be taken to avoid contamination during the initial surgery and hence to reduce the incidence of the condition.

[Total aortic arch replacement for severe atherosclerotic aortic aneurysms;consecutive 135 cases study].

OBJECTIVE: We study the validity of surgical procedure for total aortic arch replacement according to the atherosclerosis in the aortic arch. METHODS: From 2007 to June 2013, Consecutive 185 patients underwent total aortic arch replacement for thoracic aortic anuerysm. We studied 135 patients[96 males 72.1 year(38~89year)]except emergency operation. We assessed the atherosclerosis in the aortic arch by preoperative enhanced computed tomography (CT)scan and intraoperative epiaortic echocardiography. Based on the degree of atherosclerosis in the aortic arch, we divided into 2 groups:group 1(G1)included 97 patients with mild or moderate atherosclerosis and group 2 (G2) 38 patients with severe atherosclerosis. We used ascending aorta as arterial cannulation site in G1 and axillary artery with 8 mm graft in G2 .We compared with both groups for preoperative comorbidities and outcomes( mortality and stroke). RESULTS: Three patients died in the hospital (2%). In-hospital neurological events occurred in 12 patients, including major stroke in 4 patients, minor stroke in 4 patients and asymptomatic convulsion in 4 patients, although they were transient and clear before discharge except major stroke. There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative characteristics, cardiopulmonary bypass, brain protection, mortality, and neurological events between the 2 groups. There was a statistically difference in operation time( 388.8 minutes vs 448.5 minutes, p<0.01), intensive care unit( ICU) stay( 3.1 day vs 6.5 days, p<0.05) and hospital stay( 19.2 days vs 28.0 days, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We selected surgical procedure for total aortic arch replacement (TAR) according to atherosclerosis in the aortic arch. Although the rate of stroke was largely acceptable, we much need to be improved in prevention of stroke.