A surgically treated case of Takayasu's arteritis complicated by aortic dissections localized in the ascending and abdominal aortae

Because complication by aortic dissection is markedly rare in patients with Takayasu's arteritis, a limited number of reports have been published regarding surgically treated cases of Takayasu's arteritis that is complicated by aortic dissection. When graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch and extra-anatomic bypass grafting were performed in a 72-year-old Japanese woman with Takayasu's arteritis, which was complicated by aortic dissections localized in the ascending and abdominal aortae, the postoperative course of this patient was satisfactory. It was considered that the media became friable in this patient because of the presence of Takayasu's arteritis and that hypertension that persisted for a long time caused the independent development of aortic dissections in the ascending and abdominal aortae.