Methods: Nine patients underwent operation for the diagnosis of late aortic dissection following aortic valve replacement between 1985 and 2004 in our clinic. Five patients had acute and four patients had chronic dissection. Six patients had separate graft interposition to ascending aorta and three of them had coronary bypass procedure concomitantly; elephunt trunk procedure had been performed to two patients and one patient had aortic root replacement with flanged Bentall technique.

Results: Dissection was originated from aortic cross clamp area in three patients, aortotomy area in two patients and cannulation site in one patient. Intimal tear could not be identified in the remaining. Three patients died in early period. Three patients had prolonged entubation; revision for bleeding and femoral cannulation site infection was seen in two individuals.

Conclusions: Late dissections originated from diseased aortic wall following aortic valve replacement operation should undergo surgical repair. By the help of careful examination in the first operation this complication may be prevented.