title: Type A acute aortic dissection: why does the false channel remain patent after surgery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand why the false channel (FC) remains patent after surgery of type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans of 129 patients operated for TAAAD were analyzed, and a color-Doppler ultrasound examination (CDUS) of the supra-aortic vessels (SAVs) was performed in 12 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FC remained patent in 107 (82.9%) patients. The entry site was situated near the distal anastomosis in 43 (40.2%) patients and far from it in 44 (41.1%) patients. In 10 (9.35%) patients, an entry site was observed only in the SAVs. In 10 (9.35%) patients, no entry site was seen. Of the 12 patients explored with CDUS, a retrograde filling of the FC was observed in 11 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequent postoperative circulating aortic FC can be explained by the persistence of the primary entry tear, the presence of iatrogenic tears, and/or a retrograde filling in the SAVs.
authors.affiliation: University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodière
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monnin-Bares
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chavanon
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baguet
authors.forename: Gilbert R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thony
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014654:Vascular Patency
keywords: CT scanner; Doppler ultrasound; aortic dissection; false channel; intimal tear