BENTALL Surgery for the Treatment of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is by definition a persistent localised dilation of an artery, often caused by atherosclerosis. Correcting an aneurysm can prolong life by preventing other complications from occurring. In this respect, the surgical indication seeks to be prophylactic, assessing the risk/benefit of the procedure, and its decision depends on the transverse diameters of the aorta, the degree of expansion of the aneurysm sac, the shape and the affected segment. According to Silva (2008), the BENTALL procedure has proved to be very effective in the long-term treatment of diseases affecting the aortic root, as 87.17% of patients remained alive 10 years after the operation, 95% of whom were in good general condition without any signs of dyspnoea or limitations due to the surgery. This research was guided by Dr Marines Bertolo Peres, Specialist in Cardiology, who collected data on the surgical procedures carried out by Dr Esp Leonardo Lacava Lopes, Specialist in Cardiovascular Surgery, and his team, at the cardiology centre of the São Paulo Regional Hospital in Xanxerê, Santa Catarina, Brazil.