BACKGROUND Dilatation of the ascending aorta concomitant with aortic valve disease is occasionally associated with progressive enlargement of the ascending aorta or acute aortic dissection (AAD). However, surgical procedure of choice for the aorta and its indication are controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS From July 1995 to August 2001, 10 patients with a moderately dilated ascending aorta (me...

BACKGROUND Prosthetic replacement of the ascending aorta with nonelastic vascular grafts impairs the local Windkessel function. Whether this increases wall tension in the remaining aorta is still a not completely investigated hypothesis but is of clinical relevance with respect to postprocedural development of aneurysms and dissections, especially in the proximal descending aorta. METHODS Fre...

AIMS This study quantified hypertension load using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring after successful repair of coarctation of the aorta less than (1) or more than 10 years previously (2) and examined the influence of the surgical procedure (anastomosis or subclavian flap). METHODS AND RESULTS Ambulatory blood pressure recordings were obtained using an Accutracker II monitor every 30 ...

PURPOSE To examine the feasibility of a direct videoscopic approach to the descending thoracic aorta for branched endograft delivery to the aortic arch and abdominal aorta. METHODS Aneurysms were created in the aortic arch and pararenal aorta of 3 human cadavers, and pulsatile flow was established using a roller pump. Thoracoscopically, 2 double-felted purse-string sutures were placed on the ...

Ortner’s syndrome is a non-specific symptom of thoracic aortic aneurysm, therefore, it constitutes challenge — both, diagnostic and therapeutical for contemporary physicians. This paper presents the case 70-year-old patient reporting hoarse voice several months. Due to suspicion neoplastic disease, diagnostics were deepened during this diagnostic, an aneurysm descending aorta with concurrent in...

The Blueprint Genetics Aorta Panel is an efficient genetic diagnostic tool targeted for aortic dilatation and aortic aneurysm diseases. The Aorta Panel covers 18 genes associated with non-syndromic and syndromic aortic disease. Most of the aortic aneurysms associate to non-syndromic dilatation. However, at least 20% of aortic aneurysms are in context of syndromic diseases such as Marfan syndrom...

INTRODUCTION Previous studies have suggested a higher prevalence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in patients with aortic aneurysms (AAs). OBJECTIVE To carry out a preliminary study to evaluate the prevalence of IAs in these patients and the diagnostic feasibility of extended aorta CT angiography (CTA), including intracranial arteries as well as the aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospect...

We investigated whether A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) is involved in endothelium-mediated contraction through cyclooxygenases (COXs) with the use of wild-type (WT) and A(3) knockout (A(3)KO) mice aorta. A(3)AR-selective agonist, Cl-IBMECA, produced a concentration-dependent contraction (EC(50): 2.9 +/- 0.2 x 10(-9) M) in WT mouse aorta with intact endothelium (+E) and negligible effects in A...

Calcific aorta is a disease of old age and is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Here, we present two patients with calcific aorta at different levels. One with a descending porcelain aorta, and modified Bentall's procedure was done. Second is a patient who is having a calcific ascending aorta and coronary artery. Coronary artery bypass grafting from left internal mammary a...