BACKGROUND To address the lack of information about the size of ruptures associated with chronic dissection in the descending and thoracoabdominal aorta, we evaluated the natural history of this pathology. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed data from 571 patients (mean age, 69.4±11.6 years) with unrepaired chronic aortic dissection in the descending or thoracoabdominal aorta with a maximal aorti...

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...

Acute aortic dissection is a medical emergency with high morbidity and mortality requiring emergent diagnosis and therapy. A 79-year-old woman with acute aortic dissection due to percutaneous coronary intervention was presented. Aortic dissection is an uncommon but potentially lethal illness that can present in an occult manner making the initial diagnosis difficult. Aggressive medical manageme...

PATIENTS AND METHODS 140 patients with aortic dissection type A were admitted for cardiac surgery. Seventy-seven patients experienced their dissection in the winter season (from November to April). We analyzed cases of ascending aortic dissection associated with alpine skiing. RESULTS In 17 patients we found skiing-related aortic dissections. Skiers were taller (180 (172-200) cm versus 175 (1...

Typically, aortic dissection has to be considered in patients with acute thoracic or abdominal pain and accompanying cardiovascular symptoms. Due to these clinical symptoms, neurologists have not been involved in the routine emergency management of aortic dissection. However, transient or permanent neurological symptoms at onset of aortic dissection are not only frequent (17-40% of the patients...

The prognosis of chronic aortic dissection lies in the existence of thrombus blockage and in the degree of blood pressure control of the false lumen, among other prognostic factors reported. The incidence of aortic dissection increases with age. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques, the mortality in the acute phase in Japan is substantially high. In the chronic phase, computed tomography (...

Occurrence of acute aortic dissection after aortic valve replacement is rare, however, it is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. We report two Asian cases in which acute aortic dissection occurred after urgent aortic valve replacement for infective endocarditis. Successful graft replacement was carried out with preservation of the prosthetic valves in both cases. Our experience ...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the frequency of aortic calcifications at the outer edge of the false lumen and the frequency of fully circular aortic calcifications in a consecutive series of patients with aortic dissection who underwent contrast-enhanced CT. METHODS The study population compromised of 69 consecutive subjects aged 60 years and older with a contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrating a...

The aim of the present study was to determine whether EMMPRIN (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer) is present and is up-regulated in human aneurysmal aortas, and to assess a possible association with AngII (angiotensin II)-induced aneurysm formation. The presence of EMMPRIN was assessed in 41 surgical specimens from patients with a TAA (thoracic aortic aneurysm) (Type A aortic disse...

BACKGROUND Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta has become an increasingly utilized therapy. Although the short-term mortality advantage over open surgery is well documented, late mortality and the impact of presenting pathology on long-term outcomes remain poorly reported. METHODS AND RESULTS A database was built from 5 prospective studies and a single institutional series. Rates of per...