INTRODUCTION Conventional techniques of surgical correction of arch and descending aortic diseases remains as high-risk procedures. Endovascular treatments of abdominal and descending thoracic aorta have lower surgical risk. Evolution of both techniques - open debranching of the arch and endovascular approach of the descending aorta - may extend a less invasive endovascular treatment for a more...

BACKGROUND Pulse wave velocity, conventionally determined between the carotid and femoral arteries, is a useful measure to estimate stiffness of the aorta. We investigated local pulse wave velocity (LPWV) in different segments in the aorta with relatively early-stage atherosclerosis in relation to the extent and severity of atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS Pressure waves were recorded in eigh...

Salmonella mycotic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta are exceedingly rare. There are few case reports and even fewer reports of long term survival. The case of a 68-year-old female presenting with a mycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta caused by Salmonella species is described, which involved successful surgical intervention.

UNLABELLED STUDY OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: Arterial vasoconstriction is thought to play a role in the etiology of cocaine-induced cardiovascular complications, but little is known about the immediate effects of cocaine on the thoracic aorta and coronary arteries. To examine these effects, we used transesophageal echocardiography to examine the thoracic aorta and coronary arteries before and immedi...

PURPOSE We aimed to perform intraindividual comparison of computed tomography (CT) parameters, image quality, and radiation exposure between standard CT angiography (CTA) and high-pitch dual source (DS)-CTA, in subjects undergoing serial CTA of thoracoabdominal aorta. METHODS Eighteen subjects with thoracoabdominal CTA by standard technique and high-pitch DS-CTA technique within 6 months of e...

erally from the aortic arch. Enlargement of the nipple is usually due to dilation of the left superior intercostal vein as it heads for the left innominate vein lateral to the aortic arch. Where the superior vena cava or, occasionally, the inferior vena cava-is obstructed, the aortic nipple becomes prominent and enlarged (1-4); according to Friedman et al. (1), a nipple larger than 4.5 mm in di...

This study was conducted to determine if there is a difference in the calcium handling mechanism of the thoracic and abdominal aortic regions of the rabbit aorta. Isolated segments of aorta from both regions were studied in HEPES buffer at 37 degrees C and bubbled with 100% oxygen using identical procedures. Intracellular calcium levels were determined after segments had been exposed to 45Ca-la...

Two patients who underwent surgical exclusion of the thoracic aorta for chronic dissecting aneurysms of the descending aorta died 4 and 8 years after surgery due to complications in part related to the operative technique. One patient developed pseudoaneurysm of the proximal aortic stump with fatal exsanguination through an aortapulmonary fistula. The other patient developed progressive dilatat...