ObjectiveTo summarize clinical experience and early to mid-term results of modified aortoplasty with external wrap for aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta with or without heart valve disease. MethodsClinical data of 27 patients with aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta who underwent modified aortoplasty with external wrap in Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital from January to October 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 male and 8 female patients with their age of 35-71 (57±9)years and body weight of 42-90 (59±11)kg.There were 23 patients with aortic valve disease including 3 patients with bicuspid aortic valve. There were 4 patients in New York Heart Association function class Ⅰ, 9 patients in class Ⅱ, 12 patients in class Ⅲ, and 2 patients in class Ⅳ. Preoperative ascending aortic diameter (AAOD)was 40.0-59.1 (46.4±4.8)mm, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 42.5-70.7 (56.9±8.3)mm, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)was 57.7%±8.0%. Patients were followed up with echocardiography to examine changes of AAOD and left ventricle. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)time was 121.2±52.6 minutes, and aortic cross-clamping time was 70.6±29.7 minutes. Two patients received modified aortoplasty without CPB. There was no in-hospital death.Among the 25 patients who received modified aortoplasty under CPB, 1 patient had cerebral infarction and another patient had hypotension and arrhythmia postoperatively.Postoperative AAOD (36.3±3.4 mm)was significantly smaller than preoperative AAOD (46.4±4.8 mm, t=1.675, P < 0.05). Twenty-four patients were followed up from 1.0 to 120.5 months (average, 35.5 months). During follow-up, no cardiac-related death or reoperation was found. Two patients died of pneumonia, and another 2 patients died of cerebral hemorrhage. One patient had upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta recurred in 1 patient 3 years after discharge with AAOD of 49.9 mm. AAOD at 1 year (40.3±4.3 mm)and 3 years (40.3±5.6 mm)after discharge were significantly smaller than preoperative and postoperative AAOD (P < 0.05). ConclusionModified aortoplasty with external wrap is a good surgical procedure for aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta with or without valve disease, and early to mid-term results are satisfactory.