Patch Aortoplasty for Proximal Anastomosis of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts in Patients With Complex Aortic Pathology

Proximal anastomosis of conduits to the ascending aorta in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting may be hazardous or impossible in the presence of complex aortic pathology. We describe a technique of the excision of a segment of the diseased aortic wall, reconstruction with a bovine pericardial patch, and attachment of the grafts to the patch. The technique was used successfully in 2 patients (ie, 1 patient with Takayasu’s disease and the other with a heavily calcified aorta).