Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAUs) of the aorta are defined as atherosclerotic lesions with aortic intima and media ulceration, which may lead to a complete rupture of the adventitial wall. The present article aimed to report an unusual case of a surgically treated patient with abdominal aorta PAU with an illustration of the key features and to review and analyze the existing literature data. PAUs typically develop in elderly and hypertensive patients and in patients with advanced atherosclerosis. Although originally described for the descending thoracic aorta, a similar clinicopathological entity also occurs in the abdominal aorta. Patients with symptoms of a PAU should be treated immediately if they are fit for surgery. Exceptive observation by imaging modalities is necessary in patients with asymptomatic small (<2 cm) PAU, with or without focal dissection.
Aged ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Rupture ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Total arch replacement (TAR) is being more widely performed due to recent advances in operative techniques and cerebral protective strategies. In this study, the authors reviewed the relationship between TAR and early- and mid-term changes of the false lumen after TAR in acute type A aortic dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients (aged, 54.7+/-13.3 years) who underwent TAR for acute type A dissection between June 2004 and February 2012 were reviewed. The relationship between the percentage change in the aortic diameter and the false lumen patency status was assessed by examining the early and late postoperative computed tomography imaging studies. RESULTS: There were two in-hospital mortalities, one late death, and three follow-up loses. The mean follow-up duration for the final 21 patients studied was 54+/-19.0 months (range, 20 to 82 months). The incidence of false lumen thrombosis within 2 weeks of surgery in the proximal, middle, and distal thoracic aorta, and the suprarenal and infrarenal abdominal aorta were 67%, 38%, 38%, 48%, and 33%, respectively, and 57%, 67%, 52%, 33%, and 33% for those examined at a mean of 49+/-18 months after surgery, respectively. The false lumen regressed in 11 patients (42.3%). The aortic diameters were larger in the patients with a patent false lumen than those with a thrombosed false lumen at all levels of the descending aorta (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: TAR and a more complete primary tear-resection can be accomplished with a relatively low-risk of morbidity and mortality. Enlargement of the distal aorta significantly correlated with the false lumen patency status.
Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of the split-bolus contrast media injection technique in helical CTangiography(CTA) of the whole aorta and iliac arteries with that of the single-bolus technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the split bolus technique in 23 patients, 90 ml of contrast medium (Ultravist 300) was injected ata rate of 3ml/sec;this was followed by an 8-sec pause and the subsequent injection of 30ml. Using the single bolustechnique in another 23 patients, 120ml of contrast medium was injected for 40sec. continuously. CT angiography ofthe thoracic aorta (slice thickness/pitch=3mm/2:1) was performed, first followed by an interscan delay of 8sec,and the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries were then scanned(slice thickness/pitch=3mm/2:1 or 5mm/1.5:1). In allpatients, CT density was measured in the aortic lumen at eight levels, from the origin of the aorta to the iliacbifurcation. RESULTS: Using the split bolus technique, visual assessment revealed second density peak in theaortic lumen of the upper abdomen in 15 of 23 patients(65%), while the use of the single bolus technique revealedno second density peak in any patient. CT density in the aortic lumen at the level of the esophagogastricjunction, and at all levels below this except the abdominal aortic bifurcation, was significantly higher using thesplit bolus technique than with the single bolus technique (t-test, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: For CTA of the wholeaorta and iliac arteries, the split bolus technique is more effective than the single bolus technique.
Abdomen ; Angiography* ; Aorta* ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Contrast Media* ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic*

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic*

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic*

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic*

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In aortic dissection (AD), CT angiography (CTA) is useful both in initial diagnosis and long term follow-up. In this study, we used CTA to evaluate the morphologic changes of aorta after AD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the initial and follow-up CTA images of 43 patients with AD. The diagnoses were double-lumen dissection (n=13), intramural hematoma (n=11), and residual dissection after surgery (n=19). The duration of CTA follow-up was 3.3+/-1.9 years (range 7 - 89 months). After reviewing the CTA images of the thoracic aorta level, and of the upper and lower abdominal aorta levels, we compared the areas of total lumen, true lumen and false lumen and the area ratio of true/total lumen. RESULTS: Changes in luminal areas were greatest in the thoracic aorta, where both the true lumen area and the ratio of true/total lumen area increased. Subgroup analysis revealed that although the total lumen area increased significantly in the classic AD group, no changes were noted in the ratio of true/total lumen area. Only the increase in false lumen area (from 5.8 cm 2 to 9.0 cm 2) was significant (p=0.036). In patients with intramural hematoma, a decrease in total lumen area and an increase in the ratio of true/total lumen area were noted. CONCLUSION: In classic AD, false lumen dilatation occurs with false lumen enlargement, whereas in intramural hematoma total aorta size decreases with any increase in the ratio of true/total lumen area.
Angiography* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The surgical treatment of diseases of thoracic aorta has had much better success rate in recent years compaired to the past. Aortic aneurysms or dissections that extend along the entire thoracic aorta are usually approached in two or three stages. Recently we successfully performed one-stage aortic replacement from the aortic root to the abdominal aorta in chronic DeBakey type I dissection. A 25 year-old man who had dyspnea on exertion (NYHA Fc II) and a Marfanoid feature was operated under the diagnosis of chronic type I dissection with severe aortic regurgitation. At operation, a huge ascending aorta with two intimal tearings was seen and the blood supply of intercostal arteries and right renal artery was done from the false lumen. Modified Bentall operation with total aortic replacement was done successfully, and the patient is being followed-up without major complications.
Adult ; Aorta* ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Renal Artery