Contained local compression on peri-ascending aortic area for postoperative bleeding control: a case report

After type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) repair or modified Bentall procedure, uncontrollable bleeding from the anastomotic sites of the fragile dissected tissues or aortic root area is a critical situation to a cardiac surgeon. For postoperative care, lots of blood transfusion with strict monitoring on the patient all night and subsequent reoperation for the bleeding control is usually needed. We managed to make contained local compression of upper half of the heart, from upper part of the right ventricle to just above the innominate vein, using bovine pericardium with closing both sides of transverse sinus in two cases of uncontrolled postoperative bleeding (bleeding from distal anastomotic site in type-A AAD and valve sitting site in modified Bentall procedure). Even though reoperations for the removal of packed gauges were done in both cases 2 days later, postoperative courses at intensive care unit were very smooth with little need for transfusion. This kind of contained local compression trial could be a useful strategy for dealing with the malignant uncontrollable bleeding from the fragile aortic tissue or root area after acute dissection or aortic root repair.