ABSTRACT Dysphagia aortica is an uncommon condition defined by the difficulty in swallowing caused by extrinsic compression of the esophagus due to an ectatic, tortuous, or aneurysmatic atherosclerotic thoracic aorta. We report the case of a 93 year old woman with dysphagia secondary to extrinsic compression by a giant sacciform aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. As a consequence of sma...

Esophageal cancer invading the muscularis mucosa sometimes involves regional lymph node metastases. However, lymph node metastases are rare in the dorsal area of the thoracic aorta. We describe a patient with an intramucosal esophageal cancer invading the muscularis mucosa, accompanied by lymph node metastases in the dorsal area of the thoracic aorta. These lesions were successfully resected by...

Frequency The prevalence of aortic aneurysms is higher than 3-4% in persons over 65 and over the last 30 years the overall prevalence has increased significantly. The estimated incidence of thoracic aortic aneurysms is 6 cases per 100.000 person/years. Classification Thoracic aneurysms (TAA) are subdivided into 3 groups depending on location: n aneurysm of ascending aorta+/-valvular lesion name...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether superoxide anion is produced endogenously in the rat aortic adventitia and whether sufficient superoxide anion is produced to interfere with the response of the rat aorta to nitric oxide. Relaxation was measured in rings of the rat thoracic aorta, which were oriented so that the adventitial or luminal surface could be preferentially exposed to ...

AIMS Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is potentially life-threatening and requires close follow-up to prevent aortic dissection. Aortic stiffness and size are considered to be coupled. Regional aortic stiffness in patients with TAA is unknown. We aimed to evaluate coupling between regional pulse wave velocity (PWV), a marker of vascular stiffness, and aortic diameter in TAA patients. METHODS In...

BACKGROUND End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is strongly associated with arterial calcification of the tunica media, decreased vascular compliance and sudden cardiac death. Here, we analysed the distribution pattern of uraemic media calcification and concomitant inflammation in mice and men. METHODS Uraemia was induced in DBA/2 mice with high-phosphate diet. Subsequently, we analysed arterial me...

BACKGROUND Adverse aortic remodeling, such as dilation, is associated with multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. We sought to determine whether measures of enlarged aortic diameters improve prediction of incident adverse CVD events above standard CVD risk factors in a community-dwelling cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS Participants from the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation C...

OBJECTIVE To describe the fate of the false lumen remaining in the descending thoracic aorta after extensive primary repair of the thoracic aorta by the modified elephant trunk technique with a stent graft for acute type A aortic dissection, particularly the changes of the false lumen on enhanced CT scanning. METHODS The subjects were 65 consecutive patients who received arch replacement with...

Background: The small diameter of the carotid balloon-injury (BI) model impedes the evaluation of available endovascular devices. We developed an endovascular BI model in the rat’s descending aorta that is compatible with available endovascular instruments. This study also tested the hypothesis that neointimal formation is enhanced in the aorta of obese Zucker (OZ) rats. Methods: Left external ...

BACKGROUND Thoracic aortic rupture and aortopulmonary fistulation are rare conditions in horses. It mainly affects Friesian horses. Intrinsic differences in biomechanical properties of the aortic wall might predispose this breed. The biomechanical and biochemical properties of the thoracic aorta were characterized in warmblood horses, unaffected Friesian horses and Friesians with aortic rupture...