[Management of patients with closing aortic dissection].

Acute aortic dissection is a catastrophic event requiring immediate diagnosis and definitive treatment, while the clinical characteristics of closing aortic dissection are not well known. From Jan. 1991 through Dec. 1994 a total of 24 patients with closing aortic dissection (CAD) was managed at our institution. There were 19 men and 5 women, ranging in age from 49 to 74 years with a mean of 65 years. All patients presented with a sudden onset of severe chest and back pain. Twenty patients had a history of hypertension with a wide mediastinal silhouette on chest X-ray. The diagnosis of CAD was established by contrast computed tomographic (CT) scans in all patients with no evidence of patent false lumen. The descending thoracic aorta was involved in 17 patients and the ascending in 5. Conservative medical management was initially attempted for all. Seven patients (Stanford type A/B: 2/5) ultimately required surgical intervention, and 2 patients died. The follow-up was 100% complete with a mean term of 14.6 months. The overall survival rate was 74% at 3 years after the initial presentation. Based on our clinical experience, all patients with CAD need careful antihypertensive therapy and frequent follow-up studies to assess the aorta.