Backgrounds：Recently, thoracic endovascular aortic repair （TEVAR） is widely accepted and performed in patients with complicated and uncomplicated Stanford type B aortic dissection. However, TEVAR for Stanford type A aortic dissection is not commonly performed even in the endovascular era. This report describes patients who underwent TEVAR for Stanford type A dissection. Patients：Since 2016, 5 patients underwent TEVAR for retrograde acute Stanford type A dissection. A covered stent-graft was placed in the descending aorta for primary entry coverage. An additional bare-stent was placed in the narrowed true lumen of the downstream aorta. A thrombosed false lumen was observed in 4 and a partially thrombosed lumen in 1 patient. No patient showed pericardial effusion, aortic insufficiency, or persistent back pain. Four of 5 patients were asymptomatic, and only 1 patient developed multiorgan malperfusion. Repetitive computed tomography （CT） was performed postoperatively. Results：All patients underwent successful TEVAR without the need for additional intervention, and no operative mortality and morbidity were observed. The patient with multiorgan malperfusion recovered uneventfully without any complication. Follow-up CT revealed complete disappearance of the false lumen in the ascending aorta in all patients. Conclusions：Although TEVAR of the descending aorta was performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates in strictly selected patients with retrograde Stanford type A dissection, conceptual and technical issues remain unresolved in patients with ascending aortic stent-graft placement. Technological advances would lead to the development of innovative disease-specific endovascular devices and solutions in the future for TEVAR in patients with Stanford type A dissection.

Pregnant women undergoing mechanical valve replacement are at a considerable risk of thromboembolic events, bleeding, and fetotoxicity associated with the administration of vitamin K antagonists and some other anticoagulants. We present our clinical experience of pregnancy and childbirth in a young woman who underwent aortic valve replacement （AVR） with a mechanical valve. A young woman underwent AVR with a bioprosthetic valve for a diagnosis of aortic regurgitation and bicuspid aortic valve at age 23. Four years later, structural valve deterioration（SVD） of the prosthetic valve necessitated redo AVR with bioprosthesis. Three years after the redo AVR, she developed recurrent SVD of the bioprosthesis, and the 3rd AVR operation was performed using an On-X mechanical valve, which allows reduced anticoagulation. She conceived 5 months after AVR using the On-X valve. Anticoagulation therapy was administered with a low-dose vitamin K antagonist combined with heparin infusion during pregnancy. No anticoagulation-induced maternal and fetal complications occurred throughout the pregnancy. The On-X valve, which allows lower levels of anticoagulation is useful in women wishing to get pregnant.

Background：The Bentall procedure is a reliable treatment of various types of aortic root pathology. Furthermore, the aortic valve-sparing aortic root replacement also has been accepted as an ideal procedure especially in young patients. Recently, we have developed a simple valve-sparing operation focused on standardization and reproducibility. Methods：From 2011 to 2017, 44 consecutive patients underwent aortic root replacement（ Bentall 17, David 27）in our institution. Surgical results of these patients were evaluated retrospectively. Geometric parameters of reconstructed aortic root were analyzed to evaluate aortic valve function. Results：There were 2 operative death（ Bentall 2, David 0）. Valve-sparing procedure was completed without conversion to valve replacement and no significant aortic insufficiency was noted soon after the operation. Patients underwent David operation were divided into 2 groups according to the annular diameter. There were 15 patients with large annulus and 12 with small annulus. The postoperative valve function was reproduced in both large and small annulus groups. From the results of geometric analysis of the aortic root, patients with large annulus and sino-tubular（ST） junction were anatomically more suitable and better treated with reimplantation technique. On the other hand, even in patients with small annulus, effective plication of ST junction and adequate suspension of commissure posts might be contribute to restore the valve competency with reimplantation technique. Two patients had aortic valve replacement 6 and 12 months after reimplantation, respectively. Conclusions：The acceptable outcome was demonstrated in patients underwent aortic root replacement. Aortic valve was reproduced well with our simple modification of valve-sparing operation. Although our modified technique is considered to be safe, reproducible and technically less demanding, close observation would be mandatory in this particular circumstance.