title: Limited role of aortic size in the genesis of acute type A aortic dissection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased dimension of the aortic root and proximal aorta is considered a significant risk factor for catastrophic events that involve the ascending aorta. The objective of this study was to determine the possible correlation between pre-dissection aortic diameter and the occurrence of Stanford type A aortic dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of dissected ascending aortas were obtained from 220 patients at the time of their operation. Two groups were identified: patients with connective tissue disorders (Group 1, n=94) and those without (Group 2, n=126). Measurements of the true (intimal) lumen were conducted and extrapolated as reliable approximation of pre-dissection aortic diameter. The possible association of intimal diameter with anthropometric and demographic data was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median aortic diameter was, respectively, 41.8 and 41.3mm for patients with and without connective tissue disorders (41.4mm for the entire cohort). Data analysis indicated that 57% of patients had aortic diameter above 40 mm, while patients with frank aneurysm accounted only for 10%; this proportion was higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (17.2% vs 4.7%). Poor or no correlation was demonstrated between aortic size and any of the anthropometric or demographic variables assayed. Significant subgroup differences were found among patients with a history of cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, and bicuspid aortic valve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although aortic diameter remains a strong indication for preventive surgery in patients with inherited connective tissue disorders, acute aortic dissection occurs rarely in the setting of true ascending aortic aneurysms, and despite normal or near-normal aortic size in more than one-third of subjects. Dissection superimposing on small aortic diameters can be regarded as an expression of substantial functional tissue susceptibility to aortic catastrophic events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Unita' Operativa di Chirurgia dell' Aorta Toracica, Universita' agli Studi di Siena, Policlinico le Scotte, Viale M. Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. euxneri@tin.it
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barabesi
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buklas
authors.forename: Luca A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vricella
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sassi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000886:Anthropometry; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004535:Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology