FATE OF THE NATIVE AORTA AFTER REPAIR OF ACUTE TYPE-A DISSECTION - A MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING STUDY

Objective-To determine late patency of the aortic false lumen and prop ensity for aneurysm formation after repair of type A dissection. Desig n-Retrospective follow up study. Setting-Regional cardiac surgical uni t. Patients-28 patients after repair of type A dissection. Methods-Mag netic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed between 6 weeks and 12 mon ths after operation. Results-A patent distal false lumen with demonstr able blood flow was found in 22 patients (78%). Only six patients had complete obliteration of the false lumen by thrombus. The conduct of o peration did not influence this. Nine patients (32%) showed aneurysmal dilatation of the false lumen and three had a repeat operation. Concl usions-So-called ''successful repair'' of aortic dissection does not o bliterate the distal false lumen. MRI is a safe and effective radiolog ical procedure for determining patency and dilatation in the false lum en. Patients with type A dissection with blood flow in the false lumen should be studied every 6 months to look for aneurysmal dilatation.