[A case report of type A dissection of the aorta presenting as a superior vena cava syndrome 10 years after aortic valve replacement].

Aortic dissection usually result in chest pain and back pain. This patient is a 58 year-old man who received aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation 10 years ago. In this case, the patient had superior vena cava syndrome as a result of a painless aortic dissection. The superior vena cava was compressed by the ascending aorta itself, which had become very large but had not ruptured into the mediastinum. He underwent modified Carbrol's operation under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and circulation arrest on May 8, 1995. Dissecting aneurysm in the late term after aortic valve replacement is rare, and for it to result in superior vena cava syndrome is especially rare.