title: Not all porcelain is the same: classification of circular aortic calcifications (porcelain aorta) according to the impact on therapeutic approach.
abstract: Severe aortic calcification, also known as "porcelain aorta," has a major impact on patient outcome. Its presence also influences the choice of procedure depending on where it is located. However, to date there is no clear definition on how this term should be employed, being often used as an exclusion criteria for conventional surgery where aortic clamping and/or cannulation is required.We here suggest a classification of the "porcelain aorta" regarding its location and how it influences particular therapeutic options. Therefore, making more clear what procedures would represent an increased risk for the patient and which are more suitable when discussed in a "Heart Team."Type I implies localization of a circumferential calcification in the ascending aorta. Type IA represents the calcified aorta with no possibility of clamping and Type IB represents the calcified aorta with possible clamping. Type II addresses the calcification of the descending aorta including or not the aortic arch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Paulo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Kiril
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Penov
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehmkuhl
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haensig
authors.forename: Friedrich W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Ardawan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rastan
mesh_terms: D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002404:Catheterization; D003250:Constriction; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery