title: Peripheral vascular complications of aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence and management of peripheral vascular complications of aortic dissection is unsettled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral vascular complications of spontaneous aortic dissection were examined in a 5-year retrospective review. Patients who had peripheral vascular complications were categorized as group A; those without as group B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight major vessels were affected in 18 patients. No patient underwent a peripheral vascular procedure for complications of the carotid, subclavian, celiac, mesenteric, or renal arteries. Three patients underwent femorofemoral bypass for acute iliofemoral occlusion due to dissection. A fourth patient had repair of an iliac aneurysm that developed as a complication of chronic dissection. The mortality rate was 17% for group A, 9% for group B, and 10% overall. Following repair of the aortic dissection, the majority of the peripheral vascular complications resolved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral revascularization is infrequently required in aortic dissection following primary dissection repair.
authors.affiliation: Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bacha
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Chaikof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012077:Renal Artery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013348:Subclavian Artery; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery