CASE REPORTS   

International Angiology 2009 February;28(1):79-81

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Debranching of the aorta produces thrombosis of the false lumen in selected cases of chronic type A aortic dissection

Geroulakos G. ^{1, 2}, Zambas N. ^{1, 2}

¹ Vascular Unit, Ealing Hospital, London, UK 2 Division of Vascular Surgery, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK

Patent false lumen of the descending aorta is related to poor prognosis in patients who undergo surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. We describe a patient with chronic type A aortic dissection and a patent dilated false lumen that was successfully thrombosed following an ilio-renal bypass. In patients with chronic aortic dissection and a single intimal tear on contrast spiral CT, debranching of arteries of the infra-diaphragmatic aorta supplied by the false lumen and reimplantation of these vessels may produce complete thrombosis of the false lumen. This outcome can spare such patients from extensive aortic replacement or endografts.