Current knowledge and contemporary management of non-A non-B aortic dissections

Non-A non-B aortic dissection(AAD)is an infrequently documented condition,comprising of only a small proportion of all AADs.The unique anatomy of the aortic arch and the failure of the existing classifications to adequately define individuals with non-A non-B AAD,have led to an ongoing controversy around the topic.It seems that the clinical progression of acute non-A non-B AAD diverges from the typical type A and B dissections,frequently leading to serious complications and thus mandating early intervention.Currently,the available treatment methods in the surgical armamentarium are conventional open,endovascular techniques and combined hybrid methods.The optimum approach is tailored in every individual case and may be determined by the dissection’s location,extent,the aortic diameter,the associated complications and the patient’s status.The management of non-A non-B dissections still remains challenging and a unanimous consensus defining the gold standard treatment has yet to be reached.In an attempt to provide further insight into this perplexing entity,we performed a minireview of the literature,aiming to elucidate the epidemiology,clinical course and the optimal treatment modality.

Application of multi-planar reconstruction technique in endovascular repair of aortic dissection

BACKGROUND Endovascular repair of aortic dissection is an effective method commonly used in the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection.Stent placement during the operation was one-time and could not be repeatedly adjusted during the operation.Therefore,it is of great significance for cardiovascular physicians to fully understand the branch status,position,angle,and other information regarding aortic arch dissection before surgery.AIM To provide more references for clinical cardiovascular physicians to develop treatment plans.METHODS Data from 153 patients who underwent endovascular repair of aortic dissection at our hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected.All patients underwent multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography.Based on distinct post-image processing techniques,the patients were categorized into three groups:Multiplanar reconstruction(MPR)(n=55),volume reconstruction(VR)(n=46),and maximum intensity projection(MIP)(n=52).The detection rate of aortic rupture,accuracy of the DeBakey classification,rotation,and tilt angles of the C-arm during the procedure,dispersion after stent release,and the incidence of late complications were recorded and compared.RESULTS The detection rates of interlayer rupture in the MPR and VR groups were significantly higher than that in the MIP group(P<0.05).The detection rates of De-Bakey subtypesⅠ,Ⅱ,andⅢin the MPR group were higher than those in the MIP group,and the detection rate of typeⅢin the MPR group was significantly higher than that in the VR group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the detection rates of typesⅠandⅡcompared to the VR group(P>0.05).The scatter rate of markers and the incidence of complications in the MPR group were significantly lower than those in the VR and MIP groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The application of MPR in the endovascular repair of aortic dissection has improved the detection rate of dissection rupture,the accuracy of anatomical classification,and safety.

Comparing pharmacotherapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety and depression after aortic dissection surgery

BACKGROUND Aortic coarctation is a potentially fatal condition that is primarily treated surgically.Despite successful procedures,patients frequently experience postoperative anxiety and depression,which can hinder recovery and worsen outcomes.Pharmacological interventions,such as 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors,are commonly prescribed;however,their efficacy alone or in combination with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques,such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS),remains unclear.AIM To assess the effect of medications and TMS on post-aortic surgery anxiety and depression.METHODS We analyzed the outcomes of 151 patients with anxiety and depression who were hospitalized for aortic dissection between January 2020 and September 2022.Using the random number table method,75 and 76 patients were allocated to the normal control and study groups,respectively.All the patients were treated using routine procedures.The control group was administered anti-anxiety and antidepression drugs,whereas the study group was treated with TMS in addition to these medications.The patients in both groups showed improvement after two courses of treatment.The Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)and the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)were used to assess anxiety and depression,respectively.The serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and 5-HT were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)was used to estimate sleep quality,and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status(RBANS)was used to assess cognitive function.RESULTS The HAMD and HAMA scores reduced in 2 groups,with the study group achieving a lower level than control(P<0.05).In the control group,43 patients recovered,17 showed improvement,and 15 were deemed invalid.In the study group,52 recovered,20 improved,and four were invalid.The efficacy rate in study group was 94.74%compared to 80.00%in control(P<0.05).The BDNF and 5-HT levels increased in both groups,with higher levels observed in the experimental group(P<0.05).Moreover,the PSQI scores decreased in 2 groups,but were lower in the intervention group than control(P<0.05).The scores of the RBANS items increased,with the study group scoring higher than control(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Combining anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs with repetitive TMS after aortic surgery may enhance mood and treatment outcomes,offering a promising clinical approach.

Impact of D-dimer on in-hospital mortality following aortic dissection:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The utility of D-dimer(DD)as a biomarker for acute aortic dissection(AD)is recognized.Yet,its predictive value for in-hospital mortality remains uncertain and subject to conflicting evidence.AIM To conduct a meta-analysis of AD-related in-hospital mortality(ADIM)with elevated DD levels.METHODS We searched PubMed,Scopus,Embase,and Google Scholar for AD and ADIM literature through May 2022.Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics and effect size(hazard or odds ratio)analysis with random-effects models.Sample size,study type,and patients’mean age were used for subgroup analysis.The significance threshold was P<0.05.RESULTS Thirteen studies(3628 patients)were included in our study.The pooled prevalence of ADIM was 20%(95%CI:15%-25%).Despite comparable demographic characteristics and comorbidities,elevated DD values were associated with higher ADIM risk(unadjusted effect size:1.94,95%CI:1.34-2.8;adjusted effect size:1.12,95%CI:1.05-1.19,P<0.01).Studies involving patients with a mean age of<60 years exhibited an increased mortality risk(effect size:1.43,95%CI:1.23-1.67,P<0.01),whereas no significant difference was observed in studies with a mean age>60 years.Prospective and larger sample size studies(n>250)demonstrated a heightened likelihood of ADIM associated with elevated DD levels(effect size:2.57,95%CI:1.30-5.08,P<0.01 vs effect size:1.05,95%CI:1.00-1.11,P=0.05,respectively).CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis shows elevated DD increases in-hospital mortality risk in AD patients,highlighting the need for larger,prospective studies to improve risk prediction models.

Central nervous injury risk factors after endovascular repair of a thoracic aortic aneurysm with type B aortic dissection

Aortic dissection is the deadliest disease of the cardiovascular system.Type B aortic dissection accounts for 30%-60%of aortic dissections and is mainly treated by endovascular repair of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair(TEVAR).However,patients are prone to various complications after surgery,with central nervous system injury being the most common,which seriously affects their prognosis and increases the risk of disability and death.Therefore,exploring the risk factors of central nervous system injury after TEVAR can provide a basis for its prevention and control.AIM To investigate the risk factors for central nervous system injury after the repair of a thoracic endovascular aneurysm with type B aortic dissection.METHODS We enrolled 306 patients with type B aortic dissection who underwent TEVAR at our hospital between December 2019 and October 2022.The patients were categorized into injury(n=159)and non-injury(n=147)groups based on central nervous system injury following surgery.The risk factors for central nervous system injury after TEVAR for type B aortic dissection were screened by comparing the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.RESULTS The Association between age,history of hypertension,blood pH value,surgery,mechanical ventilation,intensive care unit stay,postoperative recovery times on the first day after surgery,and arterial partial pressure of oxygen on the first day after surgery differed substantially(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age,surgery time,history of hypertension,duration of mechanical ventilation,and intensive care unit stay were independent risk factors for central nervous system injury after TEVAR of type B aortic dissection(P<0.05).CONCLUSION For high-risk patients with central nervous system injury after TEVAR of type B aortic dissection,early intervention measures should be implemented to lower the risk of neurological discomfort following surgery in high-risk patients with central nervous system injury after TEVAR for type B aortic dissection.

Carotid versus axillary artery cannulation for descending aorta remodeling in type A acute aortic dissection

BACKGROUND Arterial cannulation sites for the surgical repair of type A aortic dissection(AAD)have evolved from right axillary artery(AA)cannulation to bilateral carotid artery(CA)based of femoral artery(FA)cannulation.Postoperative descending aorta remodeling is closely linked to the false lumen area ratio(FLAR),defined as false lumen area/aortic area,as well as to the incidence of renal replacement therapy(RRT).AIM To investigate the effect of the updated arterial cannulation strategy on descending aortic remodeling.METHODS A total of 443 AAD patients who received FA combined cannulation between March 2015 and March 2023 were included in the study.Of these,209 received right AA cannulation and 234 received bilateral CA cannulation.The primary outcome was the change in FLAR,as calculated from computed tomography angiography in three segments of the descending aorta:Thoracic(S1),upper abdominal(S2),and lower abdominal(S3).Secondary outcomes were the incidence of RRT and the serum inflammation response,as observed by the levels of high sensitivity C reaction protein(hs-CRP)and Interleukin-6(IL-6).RESULTS The postoperative/preoperative ratio of FLAR in S2 and S3 was higher in the AA group compared to the CA group(S2:0.80±0.08 vs 0.75±0.07,P<0.001;S3:0.57±0.12 vs 0.50±0.12,P<0.001,respectively).The AA group also had a significantly higher incidence of RRT(19.1%vs 8.5%,P=0.001;odds ratio:2.533,95%CI:1.427-4.493)and higher levels of inflammation cytokines 24 h after the procedure[hr-CRP:117±17 vs 104±15 mg/L;IL-6:129(103,166)vs 83(69,101)pg/mL;both P<0.001]compared to the CA group.CONCLUSION The CA cannulation strategy was associated with better abdominal aorta remodeling after AAD repair compared to AA cannulation,as observed by a greater change in FLAR and lower incidence of RRT.

Beyond the Usual Suspects (Aortic Dissection in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease)

A comprehensive differential diagnosis is essential in the emergency department, even when patient presentations are atypical. Timely recognition of life-threatening conditions, such as aortic dissection, hinges on this critical diagnostic approach.

Association of alcohol consumption with aortic aneurysm and dissection risk:results from the UK Biobank cohort study

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have reported inconsistent results with positive,negative,and J-shaped associations between alcohol consumption and the hazard of aortic aneurysm and dissection(AAD).This study aimed to examine the connections between weekly alcohol consumption and the subsequent risk of AAD.METHODS:The UK Biobank study is a population-based cohort study.Weekly alcohol consumption was assessed using self-reported questionnaires and the congenital risk of alcohol consumption was also evaluated using genetic risk score(GRS).Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios(HRs)with 95% confidence intervals(CIs)for the associations between alcohol consumption and AAD.Several sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results.RESULTS:Among the 388,955 participants(mean age:57.1 years,47.4% male),2,895 incident AAD cases were documented during a median follow-up of 12.5 years.Compared with never-drinkers,moderate drinkers(adjusted HR:0.797,95%CI:0.646-0.984,P<0.05)and moderate-heavy drinkers(adjusted HR:0.794,95%CI:0.635-0.992,P<0.05)were significantly associated with a decreased risk of incident AAD.Interaction-based subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of moderate drinking was reflected mainly in participants younger than 65 years and women.CONCLUSION:Our findings support a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on AAD,but are limited to participants younger than 65 years and women.

Cases Report of Atypical Aortic Dissection

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) is one of the common causes of fatal chest pain in emergency medicine. The main and most common clinical manifestation is pain, with about 90% of patients experiencing sudden persistent, tearing or cutting-like pain in the chest or back. However, there have also been reports of myocardial infarction, heart failure, renal failure, syncope, shock, stroke, paraplegia and other cases. Clinical misdiagnosis is common. Aim: Alert clinicians to aortic dissection with shock and chest tightness as the main clinical presentations. Case Presentation: Report on two cases of aortic dissection with syncope and shock as the main manifestations. Conclusion: Aortic dissection is a highly dangerous cardiovascular emergency with a high mortality rate. In clinical practice, awareness of the clinical manifestations of aortic dissection should be increased. Careful inquiry about medical history, attention to atypical clinical presentations of aortic dissection, thorough physical examination, and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation can improve the success rate of diagnosing aortic dissection.

DeBakey Type III Aortic Dissection Causing Bowel Necrosis: A Case Report

Rationale:Aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality.Preoperative mesenteric malperfusion increases the surgical risk and mortality in patients with type B aortic dissection.For DeBakey type III B patients involving most of the thoracoabdominal aorta,endovascular treatment to improve true lumen perfusion may have limited benefits.Organ reperfusion on-time is crucial.Patient concerns:A 38-year-old man was admitted with sudden severe upper abdominal pain.Emergency CTA of the entire aorta revealed an aortic dissection with an entry tear in the descending aortic arch involving the celiac trunk,superior mesenteric artery,bilateral common iliac arteries and right external iliac artery,with thrombosis in the superior mesenteric artery.Diagnoses:The patient was diagnosed with DeBakey type III aortic dissection with mesenteric artery embolism.Enhanced chest CT showed the entry tear location and involvement of major arteries.Angiography confirmed partial blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery.Interventions:The patient underwent endovascular aortic stent-graft implantation through the left femoral artery,covering the descending aortic arch and sealing the entry tear.Postoperatively,the patient received intensive care,including ventilatory support,CRRT,anti-infection therapy,vasoactive drugs and lumbar cistern drainage.Outcomes:Two weeks postoperatively,the patient developed massive black stools,indicative of intestinal obstruction and necrosis.Exploratory laparotomy revealed ischemic necrosis and rupture of the stomach,small intestine,and colon.Despite surgical efforts,the patient’s condition deteriorated,leading to death from severe infection,acid-base imbalance and multiple organ failure.

Ultrasound Combined with CTA in Diagnosis of Painless Aortic Dissection Combined with Carotid Artery Active Thrombosis: A Case Report

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) is a relatively rare but dreadful illness, often accompanied by severe, sharp (or tearing) back pain or anterior chest pain, as well as acute hemodynamic compromise. Painless dissection has also been reported in rare cases and might be misdiagnosed due to its atypical symptoms leading to catastrophic outcomes. Case presentation: The patient was admitted to the hospital due to right limb weakness with speech inability for more than 10 hours. In the routine cardiac ultrasound examination, the avulsion intimal echo was found in the initial segment of the descending aorta. The rupture range was about 11 mm, and the lumen was separated into real and false lumen. Further computed tomography angiography (CTA) examination confirmed the major arterial dissection (De Bakey Type I). Conclusion: We report a case of painless aortic dissection with active carotid artery thrombosis diagnosed by ultrasound and CTA, and to improve the understanding of painless aortic dissection by reviewing relevant domestic and foreign literature.

Incidence and in-hospital mortality of acute aortic dissection in China： analysis of China Health Insurance Research （CHIRA） Data 2011

Objective Acute aortic dissection （AAD） is a catastrophic event with high early mortality rate, but to date, no data on the incidence of AAD in China's Mainland is available. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of AAD in China and characterize the clinical profile, management and in-hospital outcomes of this vascular event. Methods We used the China Health Insurance Research Data （the CHIRA Data） 2011 which comprises all inpatient hospital records （300,886） during the period of Jan. 1st 2011 to Dec. 31 2011 of 3,335,000 randomly sampled beneficiaries （1,718,500 men and 1,616,500 women） from 25 cities and counties in different economic-geographic regions of China's Mainland. Patients with acute aortic dissection were identified according to International Classification of Disease 10m Revision （ICD-10） of I71.0, The estimated incidence of AAD was calculated using the equation： estimated incidence = 2.0 × （40% × hospital admission rate） ＋ 60% × hospital admission rate. Results The hospital admission rate was 2.0/100,000 （65/3,325,000, 95% CI： 1.2-2.8）. The estimated annual incidence of AAD was 2.8/100,000 （95% CI： 1.9-3.6） and was higher in male than in female （3.7 vs. 1.5, P 〈 0.001）. The mean age was 58.9 ± 13.4 years. During the mean hospital stay of 23 ±6 days, the overall in-hospital mortality was 13.9% （9/65）. Conclusions Our study showed relatively lower but not negligible incidence and in-hospital mortality of AAD in the mainland of China. The mean age of patients with AAD in Chinese was younger than that reported by researches from west countries, while the male to female incidence ratio is similar to those reported by other studies.

Differential expression of microRNAs in aortic tissue and plasma in patients with acute aortic dissection

Background Biomarker-assisted diagnosis of acute aortic dissection （AAD） is important for diagnosis and treatment. However, identification of biomarkers for AAD in blood is a challenging task. The aim of this study is to search for new potentially microRNA （miRNAs） biomarkers in AAD. Methods The miRNAs expression profiles in ascending aortic tissue and plasma were examined by microarray analysis in two sets or groups. The tissue group was composed of four patients with AAD and four controls of healthy male organ donors. The plasma group included 20 patients with AAD and 20 controls without cardiovascular disease. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the poten- tial targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs. Results Our study revealed that in AAD patients, the aortic tissue had 30 differentially expressed miRNAs with 13 up-regulated and 17 down-regulated, and plasma had 93 differentially expressed miRNAs, of which 33 were up-regulated and 60 were down-regulated. Four miRNAs were found to be up-regulated in both aortic tissue and plasma in AAD patients. The predicted miRNA targets indicated the four dysregulated miRNAs mainly targeted genes that were associated with cell-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix metabolism, cytoskeleton organization, inflammation, and multiple signaling pathways related to cellular cycles. Con- clusions Four miRNAs, which are up-regulated both in aortic tissue and in plasma in AAD patients, have been identified in this study. These miRNAs might be potential diagnostic biomarkers for AAD. Larger sample investigations are needed for further verification.

Predictors and in-hospital outcomes of preoperative acute kidney injury in patients with type A acute aortic dissection

Background Acute kidney injury （AKI） is common after surgery for acute aortic dissection （AAD） and increases in-hospital and long-term mortality. However, few data exist on the clinical and prognostic relevance of early preoperative AKI in patients with type A AAD We aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of preoperative AKI and the impact of AKI on in-hospital outcomes in patients with type A AAD. Methods From May 2009 to June 2014, we retrospectively enrolled 178 patients admitted to our hospital within 48 h from symp- tom onset and receiving open surgery for type A AAD. The patients were divided into no AKI and AKI groups and staged with AKI severity according to the KDIGO criteria before surgery. Results AKI occurred in 41 patients （23.0%）. The incidence of in-hospital complications was significantly higher in patients with preoperative AKI compared to no AKI （41.5% vs. 9.5%, P 〈 0.001）, including renal infarction （7.3% vs. 0, P = 0.012）, and it increased with AKI severity （Ptrend〈 0.001）. Patients with AKI had higher in-hospital mortality compared with pa- tients without AKI, although no significant difference was found （14.6% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.079）. Multivariate analysis indicated that male gender, diastolic blood pressure on admission and bilateral renal artery involvement were independent predictors of preoperative AKI in patients with type A AAD. Conclusions Early AKI before surgery was common in patients with type A AAD, and was associated with increased in-hospital complications. Male gender, diastolic blood pressure on admission and bilateral renal artery involvement were major predictors for preoperative AKI.

Multi-detector computed tomography in the diagnosis and management of acute aortic syndromes

Acute aortic syndrome(AAS) is a spectrum of conditions, which may ultimately progress to potentially life-threatening aortic rupture. This syndrome encompasses aortic dissection(AD), intramural haematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer and unstable thoracic aortic aneurysms. Multi-detector CT(MDCT) is crucial for the diagnosis of AAS, especially in the emergency setting due to its speed, accuracy and ready availability. This review attends to the value of appropriate imaging protocols in obtaining good quality images that can permit a confident diagnosis of AAS. AD is the most commonly encountered AAS and also the one with maximum potential to cause catastrophic outcome if not diagnosed and managed promptly. Hence, this review briefly addresses certain relevant clinical perspectives on this condition. Differentiating the false from the true lumen in AD is often essential; a spectrum of CT findings, e.g., "beak sign", aortic "cobwebs" that allows such differentiation have been described with explicit illustrations. The value of non enhanced CT scans, especially useful in the diagnosis of an intramural hematoma has also been illustrated. Overlap in the clinical and imaging features of the various conditions presenting as AAS is not unusual. However, on most instances MDCT enables the rightdiagnosis. On select occasions MRI or trans-esophageal echocardiography may be required as a problem solving tool.

Relationship between acute kidney injury before thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair and in-hospital outcomes in patients with type B acute aortic dissection

Objective Acute kidney injury （AKI） frequently occurs after catheter-based interventional procedures and increases mortality. However, the implications of AKI before thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair （TEVAR） of type B acute aortic dissection （AAD） remain unclear. This study evaluated the incidence, predictors, and in-hospital outcomes of AKI before TEVAR in patients with type B AAD. Methods Between 2009 and 2013, 76 patients were retrospectively evaluated who received TEVAR for type B AAD within 36 h from symptom onset. The patients were classified into no-AKI vs. AKI groups, and the severity of AKI was further staged according to kidney disease： im- proving global outcomes criteria before TEVAR. Results The incidence of preoperative AKI was 36.8%. In-hospital complications was significantly higher in patients with preoperative AKI compared with no-AKI （50.0% vs. 4.2%, respectively; P 〈 0.001）, including acute renal failure （21.4% vs. O, respectively; P 〈 0.001）, and they increased with severity of AKI （P 〈 0.001）. The maximum levels of body tem- perature and white blood cell count were significantly related to maximum serum creatinine level before TEVAR. Multivariate analysis showed that systolic blood pressure on admission （OR： 1.023; 95% CI： 1.003-1.044; P ： 0.0238） and bilateral renal artery involvement （OR： 19.076; 95% CI： 1.914 190.164; P = 0.0120） were strong predictors of preoperative AKI. Conclusions Preoperative AKI frequently occurred in patients with type B AAD, and correlated with higher in-hospital complications and enhanced inflammatory reaction. Systolic blood pressure on admission and bilateral renal artery involvement were major risk factors for AKI before TEVAR.

Automatic Detection of Aortic Dissection Based on Morphology and Deep Learning

Aortic dissection(AD)is a kind of acute and rapidly progressing cardiovascular disease.In this work,we build a CTA image library with 88 CT cases,43 cases of aortic dissection and 45 cases of health.An aortic dissection detection method based on CTA images is proposed.ROI is extracted based on binarization and morphology opening operation.The deep learning networks(InceptionV3,ResNet50,and DenseNet)are applied after the preprocessing of the datasets.Recall,F1-score,Matthews correlation coefficient(MCC)and other performance indexes are investigated.It is shown that the deep learning methods have much better performance than the traditional method.And among those deep learning methods,DenseNet121 can exceed other networks such as ResNet50 and InceptionV3.

Analysis of 287 Patients with Aortic Dissection:General Characteristics,Outcomes and Risk Factors in a Single Center

The general characteristics,outcomes and risk factors of the patients with aortic dissection（AD） were evaluated in a single medical center.From January 2002 to December 2008,284 patients with AD were treated and followed-up at our institution,including 105 cases of type A AD and 179 cases of type B AD.The patients in each type were divided into three groups according to management：medical treatment group（A or B）,open surgery group（A or B）,and stent-graft group（A or B）.The characteristics and follow-up outcomes were compared between the groups or subgroups.The results showed that there was significant difference in the prognosis for type A AD between medical treatment group and open surgery group,but there was no significant difference in the prognosis for type B AD between medical treatment group and stent-graft group.Independent risk factors of follow-up mortality for patients with type A AD included a history of atherosclerosis（HR,3.80795% confidence interval [CI],1.489 to 7.611P=0.003）,in-hospital hypotension/shock（HR,4.68795% CI,1.846 to 11.900P=0.001）,in-hospital myocardial ischemia or infarction（HR,3.73495% CI,1.613 to 8.643P=0.002）,pleural effusion（HR,2.21095% CI,1.080 to 4.521P=0.030）,branch vessel involvement（HR,2.74795% CI,1.202 to 6.278P=0.016） and surgical treatment（HR,0.17795% CI,0.063 to 0.502P=0.001）.And there were insignificant independent predictors for mortality of the patients with type B AD.It was concluded that there were significant differences in characteristics and one year mortality between type A AD and type B AD,but after one year,there was no significant difference in the mortality and complications of them.There were several discordant risk factors of AD,such as female gender,age,thrombus,abrupt onset of pain that were considered as the risk factors in some papers.And there was no definite risk factor of mortality in this study in the patients with type B AD.

Admission white blood cell count predicts short-term clinical outcomes in patients with uncomplicated Stanford type B acute aortic dissection

Objectives Inflammation has been shown to be related with acute aortic dissection （AAD）. The present study aimed to evaluate the association of white blood cell counts （WI3Cc） on admission with both in-hospital and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with uncom- plicated Stanford type B AAD. Methods From 2008 to 2010, a total of 377 consecutive patients with uncomplicated type B AAD were enrolled and then followed up. Clinical data and WBCc on admission were collected. The primary end points were in-hospital death and long-term all-cause death. Results The in-hospital death rate was 4.2%, and the long-term all-cause mortality rate was 6.9% during a median follow-up of 18.9 months. WBCc on admission was identified as a risk factor for in-hospital death by univariate Cox regression analysis as both a continuous variable and a categorical variable using a cut off of 11.0 × 109 cell/L （all P 〈 0.05）. After adjusting for age, sex and other risk factors, elevated admission WBCc was still a significant predictor for in-hospital death as both a continuous variable [hazard ratio （HR）： 1.052, 95% CI： 1.024-1.336, P = 0.002] and a categorical variable using a cut off of 11.0 × 109 cell/L （HR： 2.056, 95% CI： 1.673-5.253, P = 0.034）. No relationship was observed between WBCc on admission and long-term all-cause death. Conclusions Our results indicate that elevated WBCc upon admission might be used as a predictor for increased risk of in-hospital death in uncomplicated type B AAD. There might be no predictive value of WBCc for the long-term survival of type B AAD.

An extensive DeBakey type IIIb aortic dissection with massive right pleural effusion presenting as abdominal pain and acute anemia： particular case report

We describe the case of a 79-year-old male presented with sudden onset of abdominal pain and mild breathlessness, and complicated acute progressive anemia with haemoglobin which declined from 120 g/L to 70 g/L within five days. An urgent computed tomography an- giography showed acute thoracic aortic dissection, DeBakey type IIIb, a dissecting aneurysm in the proximal descending thoracic aorta start- ing immediately after the origin of the left subclavian artery and extending distally below the renal arteries with evidence of rupture into the right pleural cavity for massive pleural effusion. Plasma D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide and C reactive protein level were elevated. Our case showed that D-dimer can be used as a ＇rule-out＇ test in patients with suspected aortic dissection. A raised BNP may exert a protective role through anti-inflammatory endothelial actions in the systemic circulation.