Abbreviated aortic insufficiency in aortic dissection caused by prolapse of the intimal flap

Aortic insufficiency was identified in a patient with acute ascending aortic dissection. The aortic insufficiency was limited to the first half of diastole by prolapse of the intimal flap against the regurgitant orifice. This unusual pathophysiology was well demonstrated by two-dimensional and color flow Doppler echocardiography.     

Aortic root replacement surgery: indications, techniques and outcomes

Aortic root pathology is a common cause of aortic insufficiency. Aortic root aneurysm and aortic dissection, if left untreated, carry significant risk of mortality and morbidity. Surgical treatment involves replacement of the aortic valve, sinuses and ascending aorta. A number of prosthetic options have been developed including composite valve-synthetic graft, xenograft, homograft and pulmonary autograft. The current review describes the two main indications for aortic root replacement surgery, aortic dissection and root aneurysm, and discusses the various operative strategies and outcomes.     

主动脉夹层经胸超声心动图漏诊及误诊原因分析

摘要：目的：探讨主动脉夹层超声表现及部分病例漏诊误诊原因。方法：收集经手术证实为主动脉夹层诊断的病例50例进行回顾分析。结果：手术证实升主动脉夹层36处,主动脉弓夹层29处,降主动脉夹层43处。超声心动图对降主动脉病变漏诊16处,对主动脉弓病变漏诊9处,对升主动脉处病变漏诊1处。漏诊导致对主动脉夹层Debakey分型错误,I型夹层误诊16例,II型夹层误诊0例,III型夹层误诊1例。结论：主动脉夹层漏诊数量由高至低依次为降主动脉、主动脉弓、升主动脉,漏诊及误诊与超声医师因素、超声图像及设备因素密切相关。     

Spontaneous retrograde dissection of ascending aorta from descending thoracic aorta--a case review

A 56-year-old man with sudden onset chest pain, absent right lower limb pulses and ECG changes suggestive of inferior ST elevation MI underwent coronary angiogram through the right radial artery with a view to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The left coronary angiogram demonstrated severe proximal stenotic disease in the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries, but the right coronary artery could not be selectively cannulated. An ascending aortogram to visualise the right coronary artery not only failed to demonstrate it, but revealed, instead, a dissection flap in the ascending aorta, arch and descending thoracic aorta, with moderately severe aortic regurgitation. At operation, the patient was found to have an acute dissection of the ascending aorta, arch and descending aorta with an entry tear in the descending aorta below the left subclavian artery origin. Triple coronary artery bypass grafting with re-suspension of the aortic valve, supracoronary replacement of the ascending aorta and hemiarch and transaortic repair of the descending aortic tear was performed. The patient made an uncomplicated recovery, with the re-appearance of right limb pulses. A postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) scan revealed complete thrombosis of the false channel in the residual arch and a considerably shrunken false channel in the descending aorta and no aortic regurgitation. Retrograde dissection of the ascending aorta from the descending aorta has been reported infrequently in the past. We believe the scale of the problem has been underestimated because of the failure to adopt open distal anastomosis routinely in the past and, hence, failure to inspect the arch and the descending aorta routinely, particularly when the intimal tear was not identified in the ascending aorta. Retrograde dissection of the ascending aorta from an intimal tear in the descending aorta, when identified as such, has been managed, either on the principle of exclusion of the tear in the descending aorta by various elephant trunk procedures and their variants or, alternatively, on the principle of excision of the tear by extended one-stage aortic replacement, usually combined with an elephant trunk procedure. Neither of these procedures is widely adopted, owing to procedural, institutional and outcome considerations. We describe a transaortic repair of the intimal tear in the descending aorta with supracoronary interposition graft replacement of the ascending aorta and hemiarch with excellent clinical and radiological result. We also review the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this incompletely understood lethal disease.     

Aortic root replacement surgery: indications,techniques and outcomes

Aortic root pathology is a common cause of aortic insufficiency. Aortic root aneurysm and aortic dissection, if left untreated, carry significant risk of mortality and morbidity. Surgical treatment involves replacement of the aortic valve, sinuses and ascending aorta. A number of prosthetic options have been developed including composite valve–synthetic graft, xenograft, homograft and pulmonary autograft. The current review describes the two main indications for aortic root replacement surgery, aortic dissection and root aneurysm, and discusses the various operative strategies and outcomes.     

Aortic valve commissural tear mimicking type A aortic dissection.

A 52-year-old man came to the local emergency department with symptoms of heart failure and transient chest pain. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation and a dilated ascending aorta. Aortic dissection was suspected, and he was transferred to our institution. Transesophageal echocardiography appeared to confirm the presence of a type A dissection. A mobile, linear structure was present in the proximal ascending aorta, suggesting the presence of dissection flap. Aortic cusp prolapse and severe aortic regurgitation were seen. At surgery, no aortic dissection was present. Rather, the commissure between right and left aortic valve cusps was separated from the wall of the aorta. Motion of the torn commissure with the cardiac cycle apparently led to the transesophageal echocardiographic appearance described. The ascending aorta was dilated. Histopathologic examination of the aorta confirmed the visual appearance of cystic medial necrosis. Aortic valve commissural tear is a rare event, which may lead to severe aortic regurgitation. This entity may lead to the false-positive transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of type A dissection.     

Coexistence of multiple and widespread cardiovascular complications in a patient with Marfan syndrome

Inherited connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome are frequently associated with cardiovascular manifestations. Aortic involvement with dilation and dissection is the most common finding and the major cause of death in Marfan syndrome patients. We report the echocardiographic study of a 53‐year‐old male patient with uncommon coexistence of cardiovascular abnormalities typical of connective tissue disease at first clinical presentation in acute clinical setting: dissection of the descending aorta associated with severe mitral regurgitation due to leaflet flail and massive aortic insufficiency due to ascending aortic enlargement, leading to left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2013     

Bicuspid aortic valve stenosis complicated by descending aortic dissection mimicking coarctation of the aorta.

We report a rare case of bicuspid aortic stenosis complicated by an ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection of DeBakey type IIIb. A 35-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital to examine her systolic murmur identified at birth. Severe aortic stenosis, dilatation of the ascending aorta, and the narrow color flow signal in the descending aorta were detected by transthoracic echocardiography. Initially, coarctation of the descending aorta was suspected, but aortic dissection, DeBakey type IIIb, was revealed by transesophageal echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography is indicated when only insufficient information is available on valve and aortic morphology in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.     

Percutaneous coronary stenting in guide-induced aortocoronary dissection: angiographic and CT findings

We report here on a case of accidental aortocoronary dissection that occurred during the engagement of a guiding catheter. This resulted in an antegrade dissection into the right coronary artery, and a retrograde extension of the dissection into the Sinus of Valsalva and the ascending aorta up to the aortic arch. It was successfully treated with a stent deployment at the RCA ostium; this restored optimal coronary blood flow and there was a complete resolution of the aortic dissection as was documented by coronary angiography and the follow-up CT scan.     

三分支支架血管重建全主动脉弓治疗急性A型主动脉夹层的体外循环策略

目的总结应用三分支支架血管重建全主动脉弓治疗急性A型主动脉夹层的体外循环方法。方法 2008年6月至2009年11月,对30例StanfordA型主动脉夹层患者行升主动脉人造血管替换加三分支支架血管置入,术中采用深低温停循环及选择性脑灌注的体外循环方法。结果 30例患者平均体外循环时间（151.8±16.69）min、心肌缺血时间（84.1±6.97）min、平均选择性脑灌注时间（40.85±3.13）min,平均下半身停止灌注时间（31.17±5.34）min,平均全身停循环时间（2.6±1.09）min。术后转入重症监护病房6小时内全部清醒,无神经系统并发症。平均机械辅助通气时间（17.93±2.35）h,平均重症监护病房观察时间（62.10±9.24）h。目前定期门诊随访中,无死亡和需要再次手术病例。结论 应用三分支支架血管重建全主动脉弓治疗急性A型主动脉夹层术中采用深低温停循环及选择性脑灌注的体外循环方法是安全有效的。     

Aortic dissection and rupture that produce right ventricular perforation: detection by echocardiography and color flow mapping

Aorta to right ventricular fistula is a rare complication of ascending aortic dissection that has previously been diagnosed ante mortem only by cardiac catheterization. This report describes a patient who had aorta to right ventricular fistula that caused a left-to-right shunt and marked hemodynamic instability. An anatomic diagnosis was made rapidly in this patient by use of echocardiographic techniques. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography have an important role in defining the cause of cardiovascular collapse after aortic dissection.     

Clinical considerations in the chiropractic management of the patient with Marfan syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To describe the chiropractic management of a patient with whiplash-associated disorder and a covert, concomitant dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta caused by Marfan syndrome or a related variant. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 25-year-old man was referred by his family physician for chiropractic assessment and treatment of neck injuries received in a motor vehicle accident. After history, physical examination, and plain film radiographic investigation, a diagnosis of whiplash-associated disorder grade I was generated. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The whiplash-associated disorder grade I was treated conservatively. Therapeutic management involved soft-tissue therapy to the suspensory and paraspinal musculature of the upper back and neck. Rotary, manual-style manipulative therapy of the cervical and compressive manipulative therapy of the thoracic spinal column were implemented to maintain range of motion and decrease pain. The patient achieved full recovery within a 3-week treatment period and was discharged from care. One week after discharge, he underwent a routine evaluation by his family physician, where an aortic murmur was identified. Diagnostic ultrasound revealed a dissecting aneurysm measuring 78 mm at the aortic root. Immediate surgical correction was initiated with a polyethylene terephthalate fiber graft. The pathologic report indicated that aortic features were consistent with an old (healed) aortic dissection. There was no evidence of acute dissection. Six month follow-up revealed that surgical repair was successful in arresting further aortic dissection. CONCLUSION: The patient had an old aortic dissection that pre-dated the chiropractic treatment (which included manipulative therapy) for the whiplash-associated disorder. Manipulative therapy, long considered an absolute contraindication for abdominal and aortic aneurysms, did not provoke the progression of the aortic dissection or other negative sequelae. The cause, histology, clinical features, and management considerations in the treatment of this patient's condition(s) are discussed.     

Cardiac neural crest orchestrates remodeling and functional maturation of mouse semilunar valves

Congenital anomalies of the aortic valve are common and are associated with progressive valvular insufficiency and/or stenosis. In addition, aneurysm, coarctation, and dissection of the ascending aorta and aortic arch are often associated conditions that complicate patient management and increase morbidity and mortality. These associated aortopathies are commonly attributed to turbulent hemodynamic flow through the malformed valve leading to focal defects in the vessel wall. However, numerous surgical and pathological studies have identified widespread cystic medial necrosis and smooth muscle apoptosis throughout the aortic arch in affected patients. Here, we provide experimental evidence for an alternative model to explain the association of aortic vessel and valvular disease. Using mice with primary and secondary cardiac neural crest deficiencies, we have shown that neural crest contribution to the outflow endocardial cushions (the precursors of the semilunar valves) is required for late gestation valvular remodeling, mesenchymal apoptosis, and proper valve architecture. Neural crest was also shown to contribute to the smooth muscle layer of the wall of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. Hence, defects of cardiac neural crest can result in functionally abnormal semilunar valves and concomitant aortic arch artery abnormalities.     

Dissectometer - a new device for tensile strength testing of the vascular wall

Abstract Objectives: The underlying mechanisms leading to aortic dissection are poorly understood. The present paper describes a unique device for aortic wall testing during open heart surgery which allows to directly predict the risk of aortic dissection. Material and methods: Samples of the aortic wall were taken during surgery of the aortic valve and ascending aorta in 35 patients. Disruption of the samples was performed by using the dissectometer (patent pending). The output signal of the actuator was visualized by a "tensile strain curve". Seven destinctive curve parameters were compared by parametric or nonparametric evaluation with regard to the results of the normality test. Results: Variations of all seven parameters in each patient differed not significantly; however, significant differences could be observed between the 35 patients. All parameters proved to be consistent and reproducible intra-individually. Histological analysis showed the integrity of the surface and localization of dissection in the external layer of tunica media. Conclusions: The dissectometer proved to be a suitable device to predict aortic wall consistence intraoperatively. Statistical analysis confirmed that a single sample of aorta is sufficient for assessment of aortic wall quality. A valid statistical discrimination between "healthy" and pathological aortas could only be assumed by generation of a large database of patients.     

Morphology of the ascending aorta: a study on 114 Chinese patients

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the morphological characteristics of ascending aortic dissection in detail.Materials and Methods: The ascending aorta was morphologically assessed in a consecutive series of patients between January 2009 and October 2014. A new assessment and evaluation method was used to describe 114 patients with ascending aortic dissection.Results: A large difference was found in the degree of curvature between the ascending aorta with and without dissection. The shape of the former was straighter and steeper (control group R, 47.46 ± 6.40 mm; experimental group R, 59.70 ± 10.27 mm, P < 0.001). In the case of aortic dissection involving the valves, the proximal edge of the first entry was obviously close to the aortic sinus. The orientation of the entries was mainly around the 10 o’clock and 1–2 o’clock positions, and most of their shapes were fusiform (111; 70.02%). The distance of the distal extending dissection was associated with cases involving the branch arteries (involving three branches 441.40 ± 101.13 mm vs 159.85 ± 131.86 mm in others, P < 0.001).Conclusion: The morphological features of the ascending aorta after dissection and the correlations among dissections, entries, and related factors were found.     

Echocardiography in acute aortic syndrome

The role of echocardiography in acute aortic syndrome has changed significantly in recent years. With the introduction of harmonic imaging, transthoracic echocardiography has yielded substantial improvements in diagnosing aortic dissection, mainly in the ascending aorta, and it provides accurate information for aortic insufficiency quantification, pericardial effusion, and assessment of segmental alterations in ventricular contractility. Transesophageal echocardiography offers considerable advantages in diagnosing acute aortic syndrome, because it permits excellent visualization of the intimal flap and the intramural hematoma. The technique offers sufficient information to directly indicate surgery and is superior to other imaging techniques for locating entry tears and analyzing aortic regurgitation mechanisms. In cases of definitive diagnosis by CT, transesophageal echocardiography should be performed before surgical or endovascular treatment to provide essential information to allow development of an appropriate therapeutic strategy.     

主动脉瓣病变合并升主动脉扩张的外科治疗

目的探讨主动脉瓣病变合并升主动脉扩张的外科处理方式。方法按照主动脉瓣瓣叶情况和外科处理方式将患者分组,利用心脏彩超随访测量不同方式处理后的升主动脉变化情况。结果三叶主动脉瓣行单纯置换瓣膜者的升主动脉年平均减少0.471 mm,同期行升主动脉成形者的升主动脉年平均减少0.27 mm;二叶主动脉瓣患者单纯置换瓣膜者其升主动脉年平均增加2.28 mm,同期行成主动脉成形者其升主动脉年平均增加2.923 mm。结论二叶主动脉瓣患者术后升主动脉扩张明显。二叶主动脉瓣患者术前升主动脉40 mm宜进行置换手术,三叶主动脉瓣患者应谨慎同期处理升主动脉。     

Diagnosis and therapy of supravalvular aortic dissection (type A)--an interdisciplinary challenge

Acute dissection of the ascending aorta is a life-threatening disease. Successful management requires close teamwork of internal medical specialist, radiologist and cardiovascular surgeon. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach is reviewed on the basis of 18 of our own cases - 15 men and 3 women aged from 42 to 88 years. Peculiarities of history, pain and ECG give valuable clues to the differentiation of aortic dissection from myocardial infarction and massive pulmonary embolism. As a non-invasive rapidly available diagnostic method echocardiography may yield decisive information about the aortic root and the presence of pericardial effusion. Definite confirmation of diagnosis is accomplished by aortography and/or computed tomography. Blood pressure and aortic flow must be decreased to the lowest level tolerated by the patient to prevent pericardial tamponade or rupture into the mediastinum. The urgency of surgical repair is underlined by a median survival time of 12 hours from onset of symptoms to death with conservative treatment. 7 of our patients were operated on. In 6 cases surgery was performed by means of extracorporeal circulation and the ascending aorta was replaced by a graft. 3 patients survived the operation (2 for over 2 years and three died in the postoperative period due to cerebral and pulmonary complications). In one case with inoperable dissection an axillo-femoral bypass was performed for relief of complete ischaemia of the left lower limb. Postoperatively, maintainance of the patient's blood pressure at the low normal level ist mandatory.     

Aortic dissection.

Aortic dissection, once thought to be rare, is the most common catastrophe of the aorta, being twice as common as ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. In one Inner London borough, aortic dissection accounted for 4.2% of sudden deaths in men over a three-year period. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial to achieving a successful outcome, because the events that influence survival occur early in the course of the disease. Surgical repair of aortic dissection is an uncommon operation in the United Kingdom. The Cardiac Surgical Register for 1988 (the most recent year available for analysis) reveals that 208 operations were performed to replace the ascending aorta, 12 operations to replace the aortic arch and 15 operations on the descending aorta during that year.     

Aortic dissection with fistula to left atrium: diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography with successful repair.

The aorta-atria fistula is an infrequent complication of aortic dissection, and it is rarely diagnosed before death. A 41-year-old man who 8 years previously had undergone prosthetic aortic valve replacement had an aortic dissection complicated by aorta-left atrial fistula. This patient had acute left heart failure associated with a systolic and diastolic murmur at the lower left sternal border suggesting an aortic prosthetic malfunction. The cardiac diagnosis was made with transesophageal echocardiography and Doppler color flow imaging; it was notable that the cardiac lesions were not detected by transthoracic echocardiography. On the basis of the echocardiographic findings, the patient underwent successful emergency replacement of the dissecting ascending aorta with closure of the aorta-left atrial fistula. Transesophageal echocardiography is the procedure of choice for defining this abnormality. In this case a prompt surgical repair consisting of replacement of the affected segment of the aorta with the prosthesis and closure of the fistula provided optimum resolution of the clinical situation.