[Diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic aortic dissection].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic methods of asymptomatic aortic dissection (AD).


METHODS
Ten patients of asymptomatic AD were treated from January 2002 to June 2006. The patients were followed up and their data were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Two patients of type A AD treated by open surgery and the 6 patients of type B AD received endovascular stent-graft repair were successfully treated, and no in-hospital death and severe complication occurred. Furthermore, all of them survived during follow-up. One of the 2 patients of type B AD received medical treatment still survive, but the other suddenly died during follow-up. The most possible cause of his death was fatal aorta rupture.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of asymptomatic AD could be missed or mistaken easily because of its asymptomatic. Keeping a high clinical index of suspicion is crucial in establishing the diagnosis of asymptomatic AD. The asymptomatic AD also has high risk of fatal aorta rupture associated with re-dissection and aneurysmal dilatation. Therefore, type A and B asymptomatic AD should be treated by open surgery or endovascular repair respectively if possible. Endovascular stent-graft repair is a safe and effective method for the treatment of type B asymptomatic AD.
Yuan
Lian
L
Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China. yl710908@yahoo.com.cn
Zhang
Xiao-ming
XM
Shen
Chen-yang
CY
Zhang
Xue-min
XM
Li
Wei
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome