An acute aortic dissection is a surgical emergency with a high mortality if left untreated. Given the varied presentations, including similarity to the far more common acute coronary syndromes, diagnosis and appropriate treatment are often delayed. This report evaluates the reasons for delay in the diagnosis of 894 patients in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Registry. Pati...

OBJECTIVES To determine risk factors associated with postoperative hypoxemia after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 192 patients with acute type A aortic dissection who underwent surgery in Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China between January 2007 and December 2013. Patients were d...

Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this article, the authors review basic biology of the aorta and aortic dissection, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, emergency stabilization measures, and the latest surgical approach for type B dissection.

BACKGROUND The site of cannulation for repair of ascending aortic dissection remains controversial. We present our experience with ascending aortic cannulation for acute aortic dissection type A. METHODS AND RESULTS From January 1988 to September 2007, we operated on 242 patients for acute aortic dissection type A. Medical records of 235 patients who received ascending aortic cannulation or f...

Aortic dissection is the most common fatal condition of the aorta, yet it is often missed on initial clinical presentation. Aortic dissection associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is relatively rare, but if it occurs, it can be diagnostically challenging, and the condition can be fatal. Here we describe a case of aortic dissection presenting as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction...

BACKGROUND The optimal surgical approach for management of acute type A aortic dissection remains controversial. This study aimed to assess outcomes of reoperation after acute type A dissection repair to help guide decision making around index operative strategy. METHODS AND RESULTS All aortic reoperations (n=129) at a single referral institution from August 2005 to April 2016 after prior acu...

RATIONALE The initial presenting symptoms and signs of acute aortic dissection are so diverse that it makes early and accurate diagnosis arduous. Painless and convulsive syncope due to cardiac arrhythmia were not typical presentations of acute aortic dissection. PATIENT CONCERNS A 61-year-old male presenting with transient consciousness loss and suspected seizure attack was sent to emergency ...

dissection of the sinus of valsalva is a rare and life-threatening event. it often occurs during percutaneous coronary intervention in the right coronary artery (rca). dissection flap usually involves the rca and the right sinus of valsalva. here we report two extremely rare cases of spontaneous dissection limited to the non-coronary sinus of valsalva, causing severe aortic valve regurgitation:...

BACKGROUND Few data exist on race-related differences in acute aortic dissection patients. METHODS We evaluated black (n = 189, 14%) or white (n = 1165, 86%) patients (mean age 62.8 ± 15.3 years; 36.4% women) enrolled in 13 US centers participating in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection. We excluded patients of other racial descent. RESULTS Type B acute aortic dissection w...

Evidence of a clotted false lumen in patients with acute aortic dissection has been considered to be a primary indication for medical rather than surgical therapy. A review of recent publications shows that 14 of 15 such patients survived with medical management. We present three patients who had radiographic, surgical, or necropsy evidence of acute aortic dissection with a clotted false lumen,...