Perioperative Aortic Dissection: Early Recognition Improves Outcome

Abstract

Perioperative (intra-and early postoperative) aortic dissection in cardiac surgery is a rare but potentially lethal complication. Immediate recognition and appropriate treatment are needed. We reviewed the incidence of perioperative dissection in a consecutive series of 9118 patients operated on during a 6-year period. There were 9 cases of proximal aortic dissection, one dissection was diagnosed at autopsy only. There were 8 males and 1 female (mean age 64 years, range 46-75).