Unexpected limited chronic dissection of the ascending aorta

Andrea Venturini¹ , Giampaolo Zoffoli¹ , Domenico Mangino¹ , Raimondo Ascione² , Alberto Terrini¹ , Angiolino Asta¹ , Gianni Angelini² and Elvio Polesel¹

¹Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ospedale dell'Angelo, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174 Venezia – Mestre, Italy

²Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough street, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK

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Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2008, 3:49doi:10.1186/1749-8090-3-49


Published:	18 July 2008

Abstract

We report a rare case of a limited chronic dissection of the ascending aorta that was accidentally discovered at operation performed for severe aortic stenosis and moderate to severe dilatation of the ascending aorta. Preoperative investigations such as transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization missed the diagnosis of dissection. Intraoperative findings included a 3.5 cm eccentric bulge of the ascending aorta and a 5 mm circular shaped intimal tear comunicating with a limited hematoma or small dissection of the media layer. (The rarety of the report is that the chronic dissection is limited to a small area (approximatively 3.5 × 2.5 cm) of the ascending aorta).