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Repair of acute type A aortic dissection associated with temporal arteritis.

The most common predisposing factor for aortic dissection is hypertension. Dissection is also seen in primary aortic diseases, including those that involve aortic inflammation. We report a case of successful repair of an acute type A aortic dissection in a patient with a history of temporal arteritis and pathologic evidence of giant cell aortitis. The literature concerning the association of aortic dissection and temporal arteritis is reviewed.

Aged↗

Emergency surgical management of acute aortic dissection: role of transesophageal echocardiography.

The accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and surgical management of acute aortic dissection was determined in 54 patients who underwent surgery for acute aortic dissection. Results of the investigations were compared to the surgical assessment. From April 1993 to November 1997, we operated 54 patients (44 male and 10 female) for acute aortic dissection. Mean age was 60 +/- 9 years. At surgery, a De Bakey type I aortic dissection was diagnosed in 30 patients, type II in 23 and type III retrograde in 1. Operating procedures were: replacement of ascending aorta (24 cases), replacement of ascending aorta and aortic arch (17 cases), replacement of ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement (2 cases), Bentall procedure (6 cases) and end-to-end anastomosis of the ascending aorta (4 cases). Initial diagnosis, performed in emergency wards, was done on a clinical basis in 6 patients, on CT scan in 19, on transthoracic echocardiography in 14, and on TEE basis in 12. Three patients underwent angiography before our evaluation. As per our protocol, all patients underwent confirmation of the diagnosis by TEE. Seven patients needed additional instrumental investigations, 2 with CT scan and 5 with angiography. TEE confirmed the diagnosis of aortic dissection in all cases but one. Moreover, it described the site of the intimal tear, the extension of the dissecting process and accessory findings, such as pericardial effusion, aortic incompetence and left ventricular function. The interval between patient presentation and skin incision was a maximum of 70 minutes. At surgery, diagnosis of De Bakey classification was confirmed in 98% of cases; in 90.7% of cases exact location of the entry site was confirmed. In one case, an entry site in the arch diagnosed by TEE but not recognized at surgery, was observed at necropsy. Intraoperatively, we routinely used TEE to monitor retrograde systemic perfusion and correct implant of the vascular prosthesis. One case of malperfusion of the thoracic aorta through the false lumen was observed and managed. In one case we diagnosed acute obstruction of the prosthesis by bleeding in the wrapped aorta, which required reoperation. Assessment of ventricular function was obtained in all patients: in two cases, observation of low right ventricular function led us to perform aortocoronary by-pass to the right coronary artery. In conclusion, the high level of correspondence between TEE diagnosis and surgical anatomy prompted us to perform transesophageal echocardiography as the primary and often sole diagnostic procedure in acute aortic dissection. TEE, in experienced hands, has proven to be a highly reliable, safe and low-cost diagnostic tool. It can be performed at the patient's bedside within just a few minutes of the suspected diagnosis, thereby lowering the mortality rate of the natural history. Again, it can also be used in the operating theatre as an "on-line examination" as well as for assessment of correct surgical repair. Other diagnostic procedures do not yield more information and can cause dangerous delays in intervention.

Adult↗

Endovascular treatment of acute type B aortic dissection.

Intervention is currently reserved in acute aortic dissection for Stanford Type A and for complications of Type B. Endovascular techniques such as fenestration of the intimal flap and stenting of vessel origins have been used to alleviate end-organ ischaemia due to compromised branches. The introduction of stent grafts has offered a realistic alternative to surgery for Type B dissections. Closure of the primary entry tear encourages thrombosis of the false lumen, which is associated with good long-term outcome. Many questions remain unanswered and randomised controlled trials need to be performed to establish the role of stent grafts in uncomplicated Type B dissections, and the use of bare stents to encourage thrombosis of the more distal false lumen. Improvements in the design and engineering of stent grafts may help to establish endoluminal repair as the first line treatment of aortic dissection.

Aortic Dissection↗

[The MRI diagnosis of aortic dissection].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and address the MRI manifestations and diagnostic importance of aortic dissection. METHODS: The MRI manifestations in 31 cases of aortic dissection were analyzed retrospectively. Sixteen cases were proved by operation and pathology. RESULTS: MRI depicted an intimal flap and a double lumen in all 31 patients. The site of intimal tear was located in 7 cases. Also demonstrated were the complications: aortic dilation in 15 cases, aortic branches involvement in 5, thrombus formation in the false lumen in 5, aortic regurgitation in 10, left ventricle hypertrophy in 10, and leak into thorax in 2. CONCLUSION: As a non-invading imaging method, MRI can demonstrate the site, range and complications of aortic dissection; it is very valuable in the diagnosis of aortic dissection.

Adult↗

Chronic aortic dissection not a risk factor for neurologic deficit in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: chronic aortic dissection has long been considered a risk factor for neurologic deficit following thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) surgery. We reviewed our experience with regard to aneurysm extent and the use of adjunct, (distal aortic perfusion/cerebrospinal fluid drainage), and examined the impact of these factors on neurologic deficit among chronic dissection and non-dissection cases. METHODS: between February 1991 and March 2001, we repaired 800 aneurysms of the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. Seven hundred and twenty-nine cases were elective; 196 chronic dissection, 533 non-dissection. 182/729 (24.9%) were TAA extent II. Among these, 61/182 (33%) involved chronic dissection. Adjunct was used in 507/729 (69.6%). We conducted detailed multivariate analyses to isolate the impact of chronic aortic dissection on neurologic morbidity, with other important risk factors taken into account. RESULTS: overall, 32/729 (4.4%) patients had neurologic deficit upon awakening; 7/196 (3.6%) in chronic dissections, and 25/533 (4.7%) in non-dissections. Adjunct had a major effect, reducing neurologic deficit in TAA extent II from 10/36 (27.8%) to 10/146 (6.9%) (p=0.001). However, in univariate and multivariate analysis, chronic dissection did not increase the risk of neurologic deficit, regardless of extent or mode of treatment. CONCLUSION: in contrast to previous reports, we determined that chronic aortic dissection is not a risk factor in TAA patients.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection using retrograde cerebral perfusion.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the surgical management of acute type A aortic dissection between 1989 and 1998. METHODS: Subjects were 28 consecutive patients (mean age: 61.8 +/- 10.7 years) with acute type A aortic dissection were studied. The mean duration between aortic dissection onset and surgery was 17.5 +/- 17.0 hours. In surgery, aortic pathology and flow patterns in dissected aortic channels were evaluated using transesophageal and epiaortic echo. Simple, safe combination of profound hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion and open aortic anastomosis was used for brain protection. Hypothermic circulatory arrest was 46.9 +/- 24.8 minutes. Aortic repair consisted in ascending aortic replacement in 5 patients, with hemiarch repair in 17, and total arch repair in 6. Intimal tears were resected in all but 2 patients. Concomitantly resuspension of the aortic valve was done in 9 and aortic root replacement in 2. RESULTS: No operative (30-day) deaths occurred, although 2 died from unrelated hepatic failure during hospitalization or late-stage pancreatic cancer in the late stage. In cerebral sequellae, 1 patient suffered a stroke and 2 patients developed temporary neurologic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrated that the simplified conjunction of hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion and open aortic anastomosis, associated with real-time assessment by transesophageal and epiaortic echo, is safe and useful during emergency aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection.

Acute Disease↗

Peripheral vascular complications of aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and management of peripheral vascular complications of aortic dissection is unsettled. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Peripheral vascular complications of spontaneous aortic dissection were examined in a 5-year retrospective review. Patients who had peripheral vascular complications were categorized as group A; those without as group B. RESULTS: Thirty-eight major vessels were affected in 18 patients. No patient underwent a peripheral vascular procedure for complications of the carotid, subclavian, celiac, mesenteric, or renal arteries. Three patients underwent femorofemoral bypass for acute iliofemoral occlusion due to dissection. A fourth patient had repair of an iliac aneurysm that developed as a complication of chronic dissection. The mortality rate was 17% for group A, 9% for group B, and 10% overall. Following repair of the aortic dissection, the majority of the peripheral vascular complications resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral revascularization is infrequently required in aortic dissection following primary dissection repair.

Adult↗

Cerebral complications and distal false lumen in the repair of aortic dissection with retrograde cerebral perfusion.

BACKGROUND: In aortic dissection, patent distal false lumen at long-term follow-up leads to complications. We investigated the feasibility of an open distal anastomosis under retrograde cerebral perfusion. METHODS: During a 15-year period (1981-1995), 51 patients with type A dissection underwent 59 surgical repairs. In 1990, a distal open anastomosis with retrograde cerebral perfusion (group II) was introduced to replace the aortic cross clamp method (group I). Mean retrograde cerebral perfusion time was 50 minutes (range 22 to 65 minutes) with no neurologic sequelae in surviving patients. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 28.6% in group I, and 16.1% in group II. At long-term follow-up, dilatation of the false lumen (more than 50 mm in diameter) occurred in 56.2% (9/16) in group I, and 4 patients died of aortic rupture. There was no mortality in group II, and dilatation of the distal false lumen occurred in only 15.3% (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of retrograde cerebral perfusion in aortic dissection allowed for adequate time to perform a safe, open, distal anastomosis. Intraoperative cerebral complications and enlarged patent false lumens decreased significantly.

Acute Disease↗

Total and subtotal aortic replacement for extensive aortic dissection in patients with or without Marfan's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Extensive aortic dissection with multiple entries often found in Marfan's syndrome patients ultimately requires replacement of the whole aorta. We present a surgical strategy and results for total and subtotal aortic replacement. METHODS: Subjects were 18 patients, including 14 Marfan's patients undergoing total (n = 13) or subtotal (excluding aortic arch) aortic replacement (n = 5), for DeBakey type I aortic dissection (n = 13) and DeBakey type IIIb aortic dissection with annuloaortic ectasia (n = 5) between February 1991 and April 2001. Mean age was 39.9 +/- 0.8 years--34.9 +/- 6.6 years in Marfan's patients vs. 57.7 +/- 4.7 years in non-Marfan patients. All operations were staged, with the mean number required per patient 3.1 +/- 0.8. RESULTS: Early mortality was 0% and late mortality 11% (2 of 18). Paraplegia or paraparesis occurring in 11%. Except for these patients, all current survivors enjoy good quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Total and subtotal aortic replacement for extensive aortic dissection may decrease mortality due to rupture or associated disease.

Adult↗

[Natural history and prognosis of medical treatment for the patients with aortic dissections].

The natural history of patients with acute aortic dissections in extremely poor. In 1958, Hirst et al reported 21% of such patients died within a 24 hours, 80% died within a 4 weeks and 93% died with in a 1 year if not treated aggressively. However, there has been a dramatic improvement in the prognosis of patients with aortic dissections since the introduction of surgical treatment by DeBakey et al, and that of medical treatment by Wheat et al. We studied the long-term results of medical treatment for aortic dissections and evaluated the risk factors that determine the prognosis of medically treated patients. The survival rates of medically treated patients with type A dissections at 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, and 10 years after the onset of the disease were 74, 41, 36, 34, 23%, respectively, and the survival rates in type B dissections were 100, 94, 92, 85, 60%, respectively. The risk factors in the acute phase of dissections were type A and serious complications. These in the chronic phase were increasing age, the large diameter of the dissecting aorta and serious complications in acute phase, excluding shock and pericardial tamponade. These results show that emergency surgical intervention is indicated in the patients with acute type A dissections and in those who had acute type B dissections with serious complications.

Acute Disease↗

Emergency surgical intervention of acute aortic dissection with the rapid diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography.

Forty-five serial patients with acute aortic dissection were examined by transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography (TEE), and the diagnosis was made without aortography. No complications related to TEE occurred. Sufficient information for surgery was immediately obtained at the bedside by the TEE examination. Forty-four of 45 patients (98%) were diagnosed accurately, and 20 emergency operations for patients with type A aortic dissection and six emergency operations for patients with type B aortic dissection were performed. In only one patient, a small intimal flap in the ascending aorta was not detected by TEE. The operative mortality rate was 20% and 50% for types A and B aortic dissections, respectively. As a result of the progress of biplanar TEE technology, an easier and more accurate diagnosis of patients with acute aortic dissection can be achieved. The immediate and accurate diagnosis of acute aortic dissection can be achieved by TEE at the bedside, and treatment strategy can be more precisely determined.

Adult↗

Elephant trunk procedure for surgical treatment of aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: In surgical intervention for aortic dissection, a highly radical operation can be performed by distal anastomosis with a true lumen resulting in thrombotic closure of the dissecting lumen. In this anastomosis, the elephant trunk procedure, in which a graft is inserted into the distal true lumen, prevents blood flow leakage into the dissecting lumen at the anastomosis site and also strengthens this area. METHODS: We performed this procedure in 15 patients (8 men and 7 women). Acute aortic dissection was observed in 9 patients and chronic dissection in 6. Stanford type A dissection was diagnosed in 10 patients and type B in 5. RESULTS: Graft replacement of the ascending aorta and total aortic arch was performed in 10 patients and descending aortic replacement in 5. A graft with a diameter of 16 to 24 mm was inserted into the true lumen of the descending aorta, and the false lumen was closed. Subsequently, distal anastomosis was performed on the true lumen. There were two hospital deaths. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed good results in living patients, and computed tomographic scanning showed thrombotic closure in the dissecting lumen of the descending aorta. CONCLUSIONS: The elephant trunk procedure is useful for closing the false lumen of the distal aorta.

Acute Disease↗

Acute aortic dissection associated with left ventricular dysfunction in a postpartum and normotensive young woman.

Aortic dissection is uncommon in young women and is associated with clinical conditions such as pregnancy and Marfan's syndrome. Owing to the low incidence, diagnosis of acute aortic dissection in young women might be missed or delayed in patients who have neither risk factors nor typical clinical manifestations. We report the case of a 28-year-old postpartum woman with aortic dissection. The patient complained of abdominal discomfort, transient back pain, and general malaise at our emergency department 1 week after delivery of a healthy baby. She had no history of hypertension, connective tissue disease or congenital heart disease. Cardiovascular insult was not considered until the patient developed shock. Myocarditis or peripartum cardiomyopathy with left ventricular dysfunction was diagnosed based on imaging studies and cardiac enzyme levels. Finally, computed tomography revealed acute aortic dissection after hemodynamic collapse occurred. This case suggests that acute aortic dissection can be associated with left ventricular dysfunction, and non-specific clinical symptoms in young, normotensive, and postpartum women. A high index of clinical suspicion and alertness are needed to identify this condition.

Acute Disease↗

The diagnosis and management of aortic dissection occurring years after open heart surgery.

Aortic dissection occurring after open heart surgery is an uncommon but well recognized complication. Unfortunately, it is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Pre-existing aortic wall pathology, intraoperative aortic manipulations and hypertension are known to predispose to the development of this condition. We report a case of aortic dissection occurring 2 years after coronary artery bypass surgery and complicated by acute saphenous vein graft occlusion and severe mitral insufficiency. We review the diagnosis and management of this complication.

Aged↗

Headache: an unusual presentation of aortic dissection.

The most common presenting symptom of aortic dissection is chest pain - headache as the initial manifestation is rare. We report a patient with a history of hypertension who presented with severe bifrontal headache, and was found to have an acute aortic dissection in the absence of carotid artery dissection. A discussion of the atypical presentation and possible pathophysiology follows.

Aortic Dissection↗

Aortic dissection in a young patient without any predisposing factors.

Aortic dissection is rare in the pediatric and young adult population. We hereby present a case of a 17-year- old male patient, without any predisposing factors, who developed an aortic dissection. The initial presentation was acute abdominal pain with massive retroperitoneal hematoma. His clinical condition deteriorated rapidly, did not respond to surgical hemostasis, and died within 36 hours of admission. The major autopsy finding was dissection of the descending aorta, extending from 2 cm distal from the origin of the left Subclavian artery. Microscopically, the aortic sections showed intimal thickening and tearing, medial smooth muscle loss, which was replaced by fibrous tissue, fragmentation of elastic lamellae with widening of interlamellar spaces, and cystic medial degeneration. The morphological features represented degenerative changes of the aorta, which were unusual in such a young patient. The pathophysiology, predisposing factors and relevant reports in the literature of aortic dissection in young patients are reviewed.

Adolescent↗

Rupture of an aortic dissection into the right atrium in a patient with a previous aortic valve replacement: a case report.

We report the case of a 73-year-old man with a history of previous aortic valve replacement in 1990 and rupture of an aortic dissection into the right atrium. The patient was admitted to the emergency room because of chest pain, stopped not long after. The electrocardiogram did not show any signs of ischemia and myocardial enzymes were not increased. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed aortic root dilation (maximum diameter 60 mm) extended to the aortic arch, and the presence of a flow from the ascending aorta to the right atrium (evocative of a fistula between the two chambers). The aortic valvular prosthesis function was good. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed an aorta-right atrium fistula. Cardiac catheterization did not show any luminal obstructions in the coronary arteries; there was a small shunt from the aorta to the right atrium. The ascending aorta and the aortic root were replaced with a Dacron graft. Right and left sinuses were reimplanted to the graft. The fistula was repaired with 4-0 pledgeted Prolene sutures. The surgeon's diagnosis was "type A aortic dissection in a patient with an ascending aorta aneurysm and an old ascending aorta-right atrium fistula".

Aged↗

Thoracic aortic dissection secondary to crack cocaine ingestion.

Thoracic aortic dissection is a rare but recognized complication of crack cocaine inhalation. It is thought to be triggered in some cases by transient severe elevations in blood pressure, causing a shear effect on the thoracic aorta. Unrecognized, it can result in high morbidity and mortality. A case of an unusual presentation of thoracic aortic dissection following crack cocaine ingestion is reported.

Adult↗