Dacron Patch Closure of Aortic Annulus Mycotic Aneurysms

Bailey, Warren W. M.D.
Ivey, Tom D. M.D.
Miller, Donald W. JR. M.D.

From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.

Address for correspondence: Warren W. Bailey, M.D., Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, BB 435, RF-25, Seattle, Washington 98195.

Circulation 66:p I127-I129, August 1982.

SUMMARY

Six patients with large mycotic aortic annular aneurysms were successfully operated on over a 3-year period. Aortic valve replacement was facilitated in all six patients by closing the orifice of the abscess with a Dacron patch and then seating the prosthetic valve at the level of the aortic annulus. In each case, a portion of the prosthetic valve ring was sutured directly to the patch. No patient has clinical evidence of a perivalvular leak 1848 months after operation. One patient required reoperation to close a ventricular septal defect caused by partial patch dehiscence. Dacron patch closure has been highly effective in our experience and is simpler than many other options.