DACRON AORTA

During the span of 6 years a 67-year-old woman underwent four consecutive major aortic operations, ultimately replacing her entire thoracoabdominal aorta with the exception of a tiny segment from which the left subclavian artery originated. The relatively uneventful postoperative course with each operation (one emergency and three elective procedures) and her current satisfactory condition at age 73 years have been attributed to her physical and mental fortitude, excellent anesthesia, superb postoperative care, and the chronic nature of her segmental aortic lesions caused by arteriosclerosis.