BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential for successful management of acute aortic dissection. As transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) provides excellent imaging of thoracic aorta conveniently, TEE is widely indicated as a effective diagnostic method of aortic disease. To evaluate clinical usefulness of TEE in patients with suspected aortic dissection, we assessed diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of TEE. METHODS: Ninety-one consecutive patients with clinically suspected aortic dissection were examined by TEE, computerized tomography(CT), magnetic resonance imagion(MRI) and aortic angiography between August 1991 and September 1994. The diagnosis was confirmend by these techniques and surgery. RESULTS: 1) We diagnosed 27 proximal aortic dissection, 22 distal aortic dissection, 8 aortic intramural hematioma, 12 thoracic aortic aneurysm, 2 penetration ulcer, 1 necrotizing aortitis, 1 traumatioc aortic rupture and 18 normal findings in 91 study patients. 2) The sensitivity and specificity of TEE for aortic dissection were 98% and 97%, respecitively. The sensitivity and specificity of TEE to detect ascending aorta involvement were 94% and 100%. 3) CT was chosen in 62 cases as primary diagnostic method of aortic dissection, whereas TEE was performed in 21 cases. TEE was chosen as confirmative diagnostic method following CT in 45 cases, in one-third of whom TEE played a great role in diagnosis or decision of treatment modality. CONCLUSION: As TEE is and accurate and practical method in diagnosis of aortic dissection, TEE may be suggested as primary diagnostic method in suspected aortic dissection. TEE was also useful as confirmative diagnostic method complemention CT.
Angiography ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Aortic Diseases ; Aortic Rupture ; Aortitis ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ulcer

We report a case of successful endovascular treatment of a pseudoaneurysm and the obstruction of an aorto-aortic bypass graft, which had been performed to treat Takayasu's arteritis fifteen years prior, at the thoracic aorta. Along with the immediate relief of proximal hypertension that had caused severe heart failure, the successful exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and the patency of the stem graft were maintained three years after the procedure.
Aneurysm, False ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Stents ; Takayasu Arteritis* ; Transplants* ; Vascular Diseases

MR imaging was performed in 40 patients of aortic disease from March 1988 to February 1990. Transverse, coronal and oblique sagital views were obtained with ECG gating and even echo technique using 0.5 T and 2.0 T MR systems. In 12 patients of aortic aneurysm, the location, the size and the extent of aneurysm could be assessed in all cases. In the cases of six abdominal aortic aneurysm, the relation of aneurysm to renal arteries was evaluated. In 18 cases of aortic dissection, the extent of involvement as well as associated abnormalities was well evaluated in all cases. In the 8 cases of congenital aortic anomalies, the vascular anatomy was well demonstrated. However, the abnormalities of major branches could not be assessed with MR imaging especially in 2 cases of Takayasu's arteritis. With our experiences, MR imaging is regarded as a primary diagnostic modality for aortic disease and expected to be developed as the alternative measure to the angiography in the future.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Diseases* ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Renal Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm accompanied by Leriche syndrome is an extremely rare combination of aortic diseases, the surgical management of which has not been described to date. We report the successful treatment of one such case through open surgical repair of the thoracoabdominal aorta.
Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic* ; Aortic Diseases ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Blood Coagulation Disorders ; Leriche Syndrome* ; Thrombosis

The risk factors of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are old age, atherosclerosis, hypertension, smoking and family history of AAA. And the risk factors of aortic dissection are old age, atherosclerosis, hypertension and other aortic diseases such as aortic aneurysm, coarctation of aorta, aortic arteritis and bicuspid aortic valve. Although AAA and aortic dissection shares common risk factors, combination of these two disease are very uncommon. We report a case of 69-year-old female presented with chronic ascending aortic dissection combined with infrarenal AAA with a diameter of 7 cm and a case of 73-year-old-male presented with intramural hematoma of descending thoracic aorta combined with infrarenal AAA with a diameter of 6 cm.
Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Aortic Coarctation ; Aortic Diseases ; Aortic Valve ; Arteritis ; Atherosclerosis ; Bicuspid ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

Tuberculous aortitis is a very rare disease. Furthermore, it is all the more rare for it to be complicated by the development of an aortic aneurysm or the formation of aorto-bronchial fistula. If it is complicated by rupture of the aorta, mortality is very high. If the patient didn't contract tuberculosis, but was expectorating blood, we would have to carry out a chest CT promptly, in order to make a rapid and accurate diagnosis of this disease. A 46-year-old male patient was admitted due to the sudden onset of intermittent hemoptysis and chest discomfort. CT scans of the chest showed an aneurysmal change to the descending thoracic aorta, and the formation of an aorto-bronchial fistula, which originated from this aneurysm and communicated with its left lower lobe. We operated with an artificial vessel graft interposition of the descending thoracic aorta and a left lower lobectomy. Because the diagnosis was of tuberculosis, we started anti-Tbc medication and long term anti-Tbc medication was recommended.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortitis ; Bronchial Fistula ; Contracts ; Fistula ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Rupture ; Thorax ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis

Tuberculous-infected aortic aneurysms are rare, but delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications, including sudden aortic rupture. Here, we report a case of a tuberculous infected aneurysm in the thoracic aorta that was mistaken for lymphadenopathy. In this case, we could differentiate the lesion with the aid of contrast-enhanced computed tomography and positron emission tomography (PET). This case demonstrates the diagnostic value of PET in aortic aneurysms.
Aneurysm, Infected* ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Rupture ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Positron-Emission Tomography

BACKGROUND: The number of cases employing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been increasing due to lower morbidity and mortality compared to open repair technique. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of TEVAR for thoracic aortic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients underwent TEVAR from October 2003 to April 2010. Mean age at operation was 59 years (20~78 years), and 11 were male. Indications for TEVAR were large aortic diameter (>5.5 cm) upon presentation in 6 patients, increasing aortic diameter during the follow-up period in 4, traumatic aortic rupture in 3, persistent chest pain in 2, and ruptured aortic aneurysm in one. The mean diameter, length and the number of the stents were 33 mm (26~40 mm), 12 cm (9.5~16.0 cm), and 1.25 (1~2), respectively. Aortography employing Multi-detector computerized tomography (MDCT) technique was performed at one week, and patients were followed up in the out-patient department at one month, 6 months, and one year postoperatively. RESULTS: Primary technical success showing complete exclusion of the aneurysm was achieved in 15 patients. One patient showed a small endo-leak (type 1). Four patients developed perioperative stroke: Three recovered without sequelae, and one showed mild right-side weakness. There was no operative mortality. Diameter of the thoracic aorta covered by stent graft changed within 10% range in 12 patients, decreased by more than 10% in 3, and increased by more than 10% in one during mean follow-up duration of 18 months (1~73 months). There was no recurrence-related death during this period. CONCLUSION: Intermediate-term outcome after TEVAR was encouraging. Indications for TEVAR could be extended for other thoracic aortic diseases.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Diseases ; Aortic Rupture ; Aortography ; Chest Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Stents ; Transplants

A stent graft has been accepted as an alternative method for treating aortic diseases or to reduce the extent of surgery. We report here on a one-stage Management of Ascending Aorta Replacement and Percutaneous Endovascular Repair for the seperate aneurysmal lesions on the ascending and descending aorta.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Aortic Diseases ; Stents ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Aortic surgery for high risk patients has high mortality and morbidity rates, and the necessity of performing aortic surgery in cancer patients is questionable because of their short life expectancy. Endovascular repair of aneurysm repair can be considered for high risk patients and cancer patients because it has relatively lower invasiveness and shorter recovery times than aortic surgery does. Especially, percutaneous endovascular stent graft treatment is more useful for high risk patients because it does not require general anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From July 2003 to September 2007, twelve patients who had inoperable malignancy or who had a high risk of complication because of their combined diseases during aortic surgery underwent endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. The indications for endovascular repair were abdominal aortic aneurysm in 5 patients, descending thoracic aortic aneurysm in 6 patients and acute type B aortic dissection in one patient. The underlying combined disease of these patients were malignancy in 3 patients, respiratory disease in 6 patients, old age with neurologic disease in 6 patients, Behcet's diseae in one patient and chronic renal failure in one patient. RESULT: Stent grafts were inserted percutaneously in all cases. There were 4 hospital deaths and there were 3 delayed deaths during the follow-up periods. There were no deaths from aortic disease, except one hospital death. There were several complications: a mild cerebrovascular accident occurred in one patient, acute renal failure occurred in 2 patients and ischemic bowel necrosis occurred in one patient. Mild type I endoleak was observed in 2 patients and type II endoleak was observed in a patient after stent graft implantation. Newly developed type I endoleak was observed in a patient during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous endovascular stent graft insertion is relatively safe procedure for high risk patients and cancer patients. Yet it seems that its indications and its long term results need to be further researched.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anesthesia, General ; Aneurysm ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Aortic Diseases ; Endoleak ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Life Expectancy ; Necrosis ; Stents ; Stroke ; Transplants