Chronic aortic dissection (DeBakey type II) with infective thrombus in thefalse channel

A 68-year-old man with a DeBakey type II chronic aortic dissection develope d bacteremia secondary to a urinary tract infection with the Serratia speci es. This resulted in an infected thrombus in the false channel and a subseq uent rupture of the ascending aorta. An emergency resection of the ascendin g aorta and a Dacron graft interposition were performed. The patient suffer ed from severe neurological insufficiency and died of pneumonia 6 months po stoperatively. The optimal operation time and surgical options of an infect ed aortic dissection should be determined.