[Acute type A aortic dissection, developed shortly after aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting].

We experienced a case of acute type A aortic dissection shortly after a cardiac operation. A 73-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting for aortic regurgitation and angina pectoris. Aortic valve was tricuspid and the ascending aorta was mildly dilated in preoperative studies. The postoperative computed tomography (CT) revealed aortic dissection, from the ascending aorta to the arch of aorta, although the patient was asymptomatic. Reoperation for the aortic dissection was performed on the 22nd post operative day. Re-do sternotomy was safely carried out prior to heparinization. Under hypothermic circulatory arrest with femoral arterial and venous cannulations, the ascending aorta was replaced and re-implantation of the saphenous vein graft was carried out. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and he was discharged on the 17th postoperative day.