Repair of a penetrating ascending aortic ulcer with localized resection and extracellular matrix patch aortoplasty.

Penetrating ascending aortic ulcers are rarely encountered, yet they present significant risk of hemorrhage and aortic dissection. Expedient recognition and repair is of vital importance. The current management of penetrating ulcer of the ascending aorta includes replacement of the ascending aorta with a prosthetic graft. We describe our technique of repairing a penetrating ulcer of the ascending aorta with localized ulcer resection and extracellular matrix patch aortoplasty. (Ann Thorac Surg 2012;94:988-9) (C) 2012 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons