title: Intraoperative aortic dissection.
abstract: Intraoperative aortic dissection is a rare but fatal complication of open heart surgery. By recognizing the population at risk and by using a gentle operative technique in such patients, the surgeon can usually avoid iatrogenic injury to the aorta. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and epiaortic scanning are invaluable for prompt diagnosis and determination of the extent of the injury. Prevention lies in the strict control of blood pressure during cannulation/decannulation, construction of proximal anastomosis, or in avoiding manipulation of the aorta in high-risk patients. Immediate repair using interposition graft or Dacron patch graft is warranted to reduce the high mortality associated with this complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, Institute of Critical Care and Anesthesiology, Medanta The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Ajmer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Yatin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors