Aortic root reinforcement using the Florida sleeve technique in a patient with acute aortic dissection type A.

Stanford type A acute aortic dissection is an inherently lethal condition that is regarded as a surgical emergency. The Bentall procedure is considered the gold standard for patients requiring aortic root replacement. However, this method can be technically difficult for less-experienced surgeons. Complications encountered after composite graft replacement include distortion of the proximal part of the coronary artery, bleeding from the conduit implant site, and reattached coronary artery origins caused in general by a consumption coagulopathy. In cases for which aortic valve preservation is not applicable and the root is not dissected or dilated, surgeons often opt for less complicated techniques like aortic valve and supracoronary ascending aortic replacement. Nevertheless, these patients carry a high risk of late aortic root dilatation and subsequent reoperation. The goal of aortic root reinforcement by the Florida sleeve technique is to encase the aortic root to prevent any further dilatation and perioperative bleeding.