Ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass for Takayasu's arteritis.

Three patients with type III Takayasu's arteritis were referred to us because of the upper extremity hypertension and vascular claudication of the lower extremities. They underwent extra-anatomic ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass with vascular graft under a median sternotomy and a splitted midline laparotomy incision without cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful. Upper extremity hypertension and vascular claudication were completely resolved.