Reconstruction of dilated aortic annulus using short tubular Dacron graft for aortic root replacement by aortic homograft--a solution for size mismatch.

To circumvent the problems associated with a dilated aortic annulus we first reduced the diameter of the annulus with a short section of Dacron graft and then implanted a smaller size homograft within the graft. This procedure was successfully performed for complete homograft aortic root replacement in a 25-year-old man with severe aortic insufficiency due to a dilated aortic annulus. The indication for homograft replacement can thus be widened, even to patients with a dilated aortic annulus.