Resection of Descending Thoracic Aorta and Replacement while Maintaining a Continuous Blood Flow

¹ The Department of Surgery, University of Chicago School of Medicine.

A method is described for resection and a Teflon heterograft replacement of the thoracic aorta in dogs by using a special prosthesis and vascular clamps in conjunction with brief interruption of the circulation. The method was used in 18 dogs. One dog died on the 12th postoperative day as a result of a technical error and another died at the end of the procedure due to anesthesia shock. The remaining dogs survived and remained in good health with no evidence of physiologic impairment of nervous or cardiovascuular function from five weeks to six months following operation. X-ray film of the chest and aortogram have demonstrated excellent position and function.