Dissection flap masquerading as double aortic valve: an acquired complication.

Aortic dissection usually presents as an acute emergency and less commonly presents as chronic dissection. Two-dimensional and transoesophageal echocardiographic features of aortic dissection generally show dissection flap, dilated aorta and aortic regurgitation. We report a very unusual and extremely rare case of a 40-year-old female patient with chronic aortic dissection presenting as functional double aortic valve.

A clinical decision model for selecting the most appropriate therapy for uncomplicated chronic dissections of the descending aorta.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment for patients with uncomplicated chronic Stanford type B aortic dissections (chTBADs) is still matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to design a decision tool to guide the surgeon in determining the preferred treatment option. METHODS: A Markov decision-analysis model compared chTBAD patients treated with initial open surgical repair (OSR), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), and optimal medical therapy (OMT), followed during follow-up by OSR (OMT-OSR) or TEVAR (OMT-TEVAR), if indicated. Procedural risks, aortic growth and rupture rates, outcomes, and quality of life values were derived from the best available evidence in the literature. A chTBAD treatment strategy decision tool was developed, including the four key variables of age, sex, surgical risk, and maximum initial aortic diameter. Primary outcome was quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). RESULTS: For the reference patient cohort, 55-year-old men with chTBAD with a maximum aortic diameter of 5.0 cm, medium risk for surgery, and a threshold for surgery of 6.0 cm during follow-up, OSR yielded higher QALYs, with 10.06 QALYs (95% credibility interval [CI], 9.52-10.56 QALYs) vs 9.92 QALYs (95% CI, 9.23-10.58 QALYs) after TEVAR and 9.64 QALYs (95% CI, 9.38-9.88 QALYs) and 9.40 QALYs (95% CI, 9.11-9.69 QALYs) for OMT-OSR and OMT-TEVAR. The difference between OSR and OMT-OSR was 0.42 QALYs (95% CI, 0.01-0.81 QALYs) and between TEVAR and OMT-TEVAR was 0.52 QALYs (95% CI, 0.04-0.68 QALYs). This showed that intervention is preferred over OMT. A change of the four variables resulted in a change of preferred treatment. In general, OSR was the preferred treatment in younger patients with a larger aortic diameter and in low-risk patients. TEVAR was preferred in elderly patients with large aortic diameter and if the aortic diameter threshold for repair decreased. OMT was the optimal therapy in high-risk patients, elderly patients, or in patients with small aortic diameters. CONCLUSIONS: This decision-analysis model shows that there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment for uncomplicated chTBADs. For the reference patient cohort, intervention is preferred over OMT. Age is the most important deciding factor, followed by initial aortic diameter. Immediate OSR is the preferred treatment option in younger patients with a large initial aortic diameter and in low-risk patients. Immediate TEVAR is preferred in elderly patients with a large initial aortic diameter and in patients with a lower threshold for OSR. OMT should be considered in high-risk patients, in patients with small initial aortic diameters, and in patients aged >80 years, unless their initial aortic diameter is >5.5 cm. However, the differences in some patient groups are clinically insignificant, allowing a major role for patient preferences and hospital-specific considerations. This clinical decision model may guide chTBAD treatment.

Comparison of outcome in aortic dissection with single false lumen versus multiple false lumens: CT assessment.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and outcomes of type B multibarreled (multiple false lumens) aortic dissection (AD) compared with those of double-barreled (single false lumen) AD by using computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethics committee approved this study. Informed consent was waived. A total of 221 consecutive patients (127 men; median age, 62 years) with acute type B AD were evaluated by using CT. The clinical outcome, including AD-related events, AD-related deaths, and long-term survival, was retrospectively reviewed and compared with that of patients with double-barreled AD during the follow-up period (median, 60 months). Survival analysis was performed by using Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test within 10 years after onset. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk for AD-related events and death. RESULTS: In 201 of 221 patients (91.0%), double-barreled AD was identified at initial CT. In 20 of 221 patients (9%), multibarreled AD was identified at initial CT (n = 16) and follow-up CT (n = 4). In 15 of 20 patients (75%) with multibarreled AD, AD-related events occurred, and nine patients (45%) died of AD-related complications. Patients with multibarreled AD showed significantly poorer survival rates than patients with double-barreled AD (P = .0002). The presence of a multibarreled false lumen was the most powerful risk factor for AD-related deaths according to multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 5.61; 95% confidence interval: 2.44, 12.90; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Multibarreled AD occurs in 9% of acute type B dissections. The presence of multibarreled AD is a powerful predictor of AD-related deaths.

Descending thoracic aortic surgery: update on mortality, morbidity, risk assessment and management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on thoracic aortic surgery, as well as key management guidelines in the perioperative period. This is particularly timely, as endovascular techniques continue to evolve and become more available. RECENT FINDINGS: Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic disease is expanding in applications and case complexity. SUMMARY: With the expanded use of endovascular techniques to treat aortic disease, midterm and long-term outcome studies and comparisons to open surgical approach are now being published with increasing frequency. This review analyzes the available literature on preventing adverse outcomes after descending thoracic aortic surgery, with specific attention to mortality, morbidity, risk assessment and management in the perioperative setting.

The French National Authority for Health reports on thoracic stent grafts.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of stent grafts in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. METHOD: Our health technology assessment method combined a critical review of the literature with experts' opinions. Several databases, useful Web sites, and the gray literature were searched from January 1995 to December 2004. Some manually retrieved major articles published in 2005 were also included. The draft report was submitted to and discussed by a working group of 12 members nominated by relevant medical societies. The amended report was submitted to a multidisciplinary group of 12 peer reviewers for comment. RESULTS: Endovascular stent grafting (ESG) repair for lesions of the thoracic aorta, including aneurysms, dissections, and aortic isthmus ruptures, is probably beneficial in terms of operative mortality and severe morbidity, with an incidence of paraplegia of 2.1% (range 0%-7%) for ESG vs 5% (range, 3%-15%) for surgery, provided that there is a rigorous medium-term assessment and that anatomic factors are favorable. A proximal neck length of at least 2 cm is needed to insert the stent graft. Indications for ESG in thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection are similar to those for surgery. Endovascular stent grafting is particularly appropriate in patients with multiple traumas to the thoracic aorta in whom concomitant lesions are a contraindication to open surgery. Endovascular stent graft repair can only be done in public or private centers with expertise in both endovascular and surgical procedures and with adequate technical facilities. Patients should be informed of the advantages and drawbacks of both methods. A multidisciplinary discussion should address risks of converting to open surgery and possible need for a cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients should be monitored annually by computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging and plain radiographs because long-term results are uncertain (possible stent graft deterioration, onset of aortic disease). They should be told of the need for surveillance and possible further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A prospective registry of all thoracic aorta procedures (endovascular treatment, open surgery, thoracic ESG plus extra-anatomic bypass) needs to be set up. All practitioners and stent graft manufacturers should contribute to this registry. It should include information on patient monitoring in order to (1) select patients who could be treated by ESG repair, (2) assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled study comparing ESG and surgery, (3) assess the medium-term outcome of different devices, and (4) obtain a better understanding of the health economics aspects.

Assessment of chronic aortic dissection: contribution of different ECG-gated breath-hold MRI techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the impact of different rapid MRI techniques for the assessment and follow-up of chronic aortic dissections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients (41 postoperative Stanford type A, 12 type B dissections) were scanned at 1.5 T during a 3-year period. The study reviewed ECG-gated breath-hold black blood sequences and 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the thoracic aorta supplemented by segmented cine and phase-contrast imaging as well as abdominal contrast-enhanced MR angiography. A retrospective separate analysis of black blood acquisitions and contrast-enhanced MR angiograms from a total of 72 examinations was performed by two radiologists to evaluate detection of intimal flaps and assess image quality. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of black blood sequences compared with those of contrast-enhanced MR angiography in detecting intimal flaps were 87% and 94% for the thoracic aorta, and 54% and 97% for the supraaortic branches, respectively. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography was subjectively rated as superior to black blood techniques for visualizing intimal flaps and yielded better overall image quality (p < 0.001). Aortic valve competence can be assessed on segmented cine techniques. Phase-contrast sequences enabled the quantification of regurgitant flow across the aortic valve and the analysis of flow patterns in the true and false channels. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MR angiography is superior to black blood MRI in detecting the presence or absence of intimal flaps and is particularly useful in assessing supraaortic branch vessel involvement. Cine and phase-contrast techniques should be included in the imaging follow-up to diagnose possible complications of chronic aortic dissections.

[Prognosis of postoperative aortic dissection. Assessment with magnetic resonance]. / Prognóstico da dissecção da aorta após cirurgia. Avaliação por ressonância magnética.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate operated type A aortic dissection by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), in order to detect long-term complications and identify prognostic indexes of evolution. DESIGN: Prospective study with a three-year period of follow-up. Prognosis evaluation. SETTINGS: Outpatient Clinic at Hospital de Santa Maria and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center at Hospital da Cruz Vermelha. PATIENTS: A sample of 37 patients submitted to type A aortic dissection surgery, included sequentially, after exclusion of those with contraindication to MRI. METHODS: Initial evaluation (clinical and MRI study) at 3 to 4 months and at 1, 2 and 3 years after surgery. The mean follow-up time was 39.3 +/- 2.9 months. We evaluated the following complications over the aorta (aortic graft and five segments of residual aorta) and the aortic valve: aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, rupture, re-dissection, progressive aortic valve regurgitation, reoperation and death. The prognostic indexes analysed were: presence of residual flap; false lumen patency; presence of re-entry points; false lumen to aorta dimension ratio; initial aortic dimension; increase of aortic dimension. RESULTS: All patients, with the exception of three that died, remained asymptomatic. COMPLICATIONS: Aneurysm was detected in 45.9% of patients, located in one or more segments; rupture occurred in three patients, preceded by aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm development; moderate or severe aortic regurgitation was detected in 47.8% of patients. Prognostic indexes: 1. Aneurysm development in each segment yeilded a significant association with: presence of residual flap in the same and other segments; higher initial dimension of the same and other segments, with the exception of the abdominal segment; higher increase in dimension of the same and other segments, with the exception of the abdominal segment; 2. Moderate or severe aortic regurgitation development showed a tendency to association with higher increase in dimension of proximal ascending aorta. 3. No association was found between aneurysm and aortic regurgitation development. CONCLUSIONS: Patients operated for type A aortic dissection had a high incidence of late complications which lead to reoperation and in some cases death. The presence of a residual flap, increased aortic dimensions and higher increase rate of aortic dimensions were associated with a complicated evolution. MRI was a very useful technique for long-term monitoring and to identify prognostic indexes of evolution.

Intravascular ultrasound and histology in in vitro assessment of iliac artery angioplasty.

PURPOSE: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to assess in vitro the morphologic and quantitative effects of balloon angioplasty (PTA) of the iliac artery. METHODS: Forty human iliac arteries (>/= 30% area stenosis) were studied with IVUS in vitro before and after PTA and the findings were validated with histology. RESULTS: The sensitivity of IVUS for dissection was 74% and for media rupture 59%. The incidence of vascular damage was higher when the whole segment was analyzed rather than the target site alone. Dissections occurred at the thinnest region of the plaque, unrelated to plaque calcification. Following PTA, quantitative changes at the target site were greater compared with the overall data derived from all cross-sections. The increase in lumen area was caused solely by an increase in vessel area. CONCLUSIONS: IVUS is sensitive in detecting dissections, which occurred irrespective of calcification at the thinnest region of the plaque. The increase in lumen area after PTA was caused by stretching of the vessel.