Use of the patch graft technique and late correction of coarctation can predict aneurysmal formation at the site of coarctation repair, although patients with a bicuspid aortic valve may be at risk for an aneurysm developing in the ascending aorta, particularly after late repair of aortic coarctation with high preoperative pressure gradients.

IMH is associated with a clinical profile and prognosis similar to classic dissection and may be considered an ominous precursor of overt aortic dissection. Tomographic noninvasive imaging ensures rapid, nontraumatic diagnosis of IMH. The outcome of IMH of the ascending aorta appears favorable only with immediate surgical repair.

Background-Aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) is a variant of overt aortic dissection. The predictors of progression of IMH to dissection and rupture are still unknown, and strategies for management are not established. Methods and Results-A multicenter study was conducted comprising 66 patients with IMH and hospital admission Յ48 hours after onset of initial symptoms. Among these, progression to aortic dissection or rupture occurred in 30 (45%) and death occurred in 13 (20%) patients within 30 days. Late progression was noted in 14 (21%) and death in 11 (17%) patients, yielding a 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival of 76%, 73%, and 43%, respectively. In a set of 9 variables, multivariate analysis identified IMH location in the ascending aorta (type A; Pϭ0.02) and moderately ectatic aortic diameters (49Ϯ13 mm with progression versus 57Ϯ16 mm without progression; Pϭ0.03) as independent predictors of early progression. In type A IMH, early mortality was 8% with swift surgery versus 55% without surgery (Pϭ0.004). The risk of late progression of IMH was independently associated with age at index diagnosis (Pϭ0.01) and absence of ␤-blocker therapy during follow-up (Pϭ0.03). Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed improved 1-year survival of IMH with ␤-blocker therapy (95% versus 67% without ␤-blockers; Pϭ0.004). Conclusions-Regardless of aortic diameter, IMH of the ascending aorta (type A) is at high risk for early progression, and, thus, undelayed surgical repair should be performed. Moreover, oral ␤-blocker therapy may improve long-term prognosis of IMH independent of anatomical location.

Background-Type I aortic dissection develops in 0.6% of patients late after aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 13% of patients with type I aortic dissections have a history of AVR. Predictors of aortic dissection at AVR, however, have not been characterized. Methods and Results-A study group of 33 patients with type I aortic dissection had aortic surgery 49Ϯ55 months after routine AVR. A group of 101 controls, who did not have morphological progression of aortic diameters Ն6 years after AVR, was used to identify predictors of postsurgical dissection. Multivariate analysis identified aortic regurgitation (PϽ0.002) and fragility (PϽ0.001) or thinning of the aortic wall (PϽ0.007) at AVR as predictors, associated with a 14%, 22%, and 7% probability of late aortic dissection, respectively. Clamping times, types of valve prostheses, concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, and mean ascending aortic diameters of 43Ϯ10 mm at AVR did not predict late dissection. A separate analysis of 29 nondissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta developing 104Ϯ64 months after routine AVR revealed younger age at AVR (PϽ0.003) and congenitally bicuspid aortic valves (PϽ0.03) as predictors of late aneurysm formation. Conclusions-Aortic regurgitation combined with fragile and thinned aortic walls in patients with moderate aortic dilation may reflect aortic root disease, with a high risk for postsurgical aortic sequelae if it is treated incompletely by isolated valve replacement. (Circulation. 1999;100[suppl II]:II-287-II-294.