PERIPHERAL VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF AORTIC DISSECTION

BACKGROUND: The incidence and management of peripheral vascular compli cations of aortic dissection is unsettled. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Perip heral vascular complications of spontaneous aortic dissection were exa mined in a 5-year retrospective review. Patients who had peripheral va scular complications were categorized as group A; those without as gro up B. RESULTS: Thirty-eight major vessels were affected in 18 patients , No patient underwent a peripheral vascular procedure for complicatio ns of the carotid, subclavian, celiac, mesenteric, or renal arteries, Three patients underwent femorofemoral bypass for acute iliofemoral oc clusion due to dissection, A fourth patient had repair of an iliac ane urysm that developed as a complication of chronic dissection. The mort ality rate was 17% for group A, 9% for group B, and 10% overall, Follo wing repair of the aortic dissection, the majority of the peripheral v ascular complications resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral revascularizat ion is in-frequently required in aortic dissection following primary d issection repair.