Reversed Elephant Trunk Technique for the Repair of Type B Aortic Dissection: A Case Report

We report a case of a type b aortic dissection with an aneurysm treated by the replacement of the proximal descending thoracic aorta via the reversed elephant trunk technique. a 48-year-old asymptomatic man was diagnosed with a type b aortic dissection, moderate aortic regurgitation, and a good biventricular function in march 2012. four years later (april 2016), a contrast-enhanced computed tomography examination revealed an aneurysmal dilatation in the patient’s descending thoracic aorta with a thrombosis in the proximal part of the false lumen, which warranted surgical repair. he underwent type b aortic dissection repair through the left posterolateral thoracotomy. three months after the surgery, the patient developed a type a aortic dissection with severe aortic regurgitation, which was successfully managed via a bentall procedure with arch replacement facilitated by the reversed elephant trunk technique performed during the initial surgery through thoracotomy. at 2 years follow-up, the patient was doing well with a normal left ventricular function.