OBJECTIVETo analyze the death-related risk factors of type B aortic dissection treated medically during the acute phase (symptoms presenting within 14 d), and to determine the predictors of surgical indications for acute type B aortic dissection.

METHODSClinical data of 42 patients with acute type B aortic dissection admitted from January 2007 to May 2009 was retrospectively reviewed. There were 33 male and 9 female with a mean age of (50 +/- 12) years old. Therapy included analgesia, controlled hypotension and beta-receptor blocker, the mortality in acute phase was 33.3% (14/42). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictors of the death in acute phase.

RESULTSIn univariate logistic regression analysis, the malperfusion of aortic branches (P = 0.018) and maximum aortic diameter (P = 0.002) were significant predictors of death. In the multivariate logistic regression model, the malperfusion of aortic branches (P = 0.041) and maximum aortic diameter (P = 0.005) were also considered as the significant death-related factors.Risk of death augmented significantly (P = 0.000) when the maximum aortic diameter over 40 mm.

CONCLUSIONMalperfusion of aortic branches and the large maximum aortic diameter (> 40 mm) are the indications of surgery or endovascular therapy for acute type B aortic dissection.