Intimal intussusception: Unusual complication of dissecting aneurysm

A case is reported of a 65-year-old man operated on to relieve obstruction of the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries due to a dissecting aneurysm. At operation the obstruction was found to be due to detachment of the intima from the ascending aorta followed by intussusception into the distal aortic arch. Surgical correction consisted in resection of the ascending aorta and aortic arch and replacement with a Dacron graft. Certain technical aspects of the operation were considered important in achieving a successful outcome.