Acute aortic dissection involving a fusiform abdominal aortic aneurysm - Case reports

Two patients with a combined acute aortic dissection and a fusiform abdomin al aortic aneurysm (AAA) are described. The dissection involved the aneurys m, which is rarely diagnosed during life. An aortic bifurcation graft was i nserted, but both patients died of persisting septic shock. An acute aortic dissection involving an existing AAA is a major catastrophic event that sh ould be considered as a complicated aortic dissection for which urgent surg ical treatment is advised.