THE MANAGEMENT OF THORACIC TYPE A DISSECTIONS 

Italian Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2011 September;18(3):215-23

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Prophylactic surgery of the aortic root in Marfan Syndrome: reconsideration of the decision making process in the era of customised external aortic root support

Treasure T. ¹, Golesworthy T. ², Pepper J. ³, Ruiz F. ⁴, Gallivan S. ¹

¹ Clinical Operational Research Unit Mathematics UCL, London, UK 2 Exstent Ltd, Tewkesbury, UK 3 Cardiac Surgery Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK 4 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence London, UK

Elective surgery is used to safeguard people whose aortic root is affected by Marfan syndrome from the consequences of aortic dissection. In making the decision about the choice of surgery there is a complex trade off of the ongoing risk of dissection if surgery is deferred versus the risk of the operation itself and of the ensuing lifetime consequences. These are re-explored to include the latest option: customised external aortic root support.