Between January 1996 and May 2017, the International Registry on Acute Aortic Dissections has collected information on a total of 6,424 consecutive patients with acute aortic dissection, including 258 individuals with a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome. Patients with Marfan syndrome presented at a significantly younger age compared to patients without Marfan syndrome (38.2±13.2 . 63.0±14.0 years; P<0.001) and in general had fewer comorbidities, although they more frequently had a known aortic aneurysm and history of prior cardiac surgery. We noted significantly larger diameters of the aortic annulus and root in the Marfan syndrome cohort, but no larger diameters more distally. The in-hospital mortality in type A dissection was not significantly different in patients with or without Marfan syndrome, despite the differences in age and comorbidities and the lower incidence of aortic rupture in the Marfan syndrome cohort. In contrast, the in-hospital mortality of Marfan syndrome patients with type B dissection appears to be lower than that of patients without Marfan syndrome. The Marfan syndrome cohort that was treated with open surgery for type B dissection seemed to do especially well, with a 0% mortality rate (n=27). Follow-up data for type A and B dissections combined show an estimated five-year survival rate of 80.1% and an estimated reintervention rate of 55.3% in patients with Marfan syndrome. Such a high rate of reinterventions highlights the need for careful surveillance and treatment for patients with Marfan syndrome surviving the acute phase of aortic dissection.

Primary resection for patients with acute RSCO seems to be associated with higher mortality and major morbidity rates than stent placement and elective resection. In addition, stent placement resulted in fewer anastomotic leakages and permanent ileostomies. However, as no high-level studies are available on the optimal treatment of RSCO and proximal stenting is considered technically challenging, future comparative studies are warranted for the development of an evidence-based clinical decision guideline.

The stiffness of young porcine aortic tissue shows good correspondence with human tissue aged <60 years, especially in the ascending aorta. Young porcine aortic tissue is less stiff than human aortic tissue aged ≥60 years.

Background Aging changes the aorta in length, tortuosity and diameter. This is relevant in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and in the long term follow up. Methods and results Two groups of hundred patients < 65 years and hundred patients ≥ 65 years, with no vascular diseases were made. Thin cut CT scans were analyzed with 3Mensio Vascular software and the following measurements were collected; tortuosity index, curvature ratio, maximum tortuosity in degrees and the level of vertebrae of the maximum tortuosity. The descending thoracic aorta (DTA) was analyzed and was divided into four zones of equal length. Subjects were divided into three groups based on their maximum tortuosity value: low (< 30°), moderate (30° – 60°) and high (> 60°). A linear regression model was built to test the effect of age and gender on tortuosity. Tortuosity was more pronounced in the ≥ 65 compared to the < 65 group (tortuosity index: 1.05 vs. 1.14, respectively; p < 0.001), curvature ratio (1.00 vs. 1.01; p < 0.001), maximum tortuosity (22.24 vs. 27.26; p < 0.001), and group of angulation (low vs. low; p < 0.001). Additionally, the location of maximum tortuosity was further distal for the ≥ 65 group (level of vertebrae; 5.00 vs. 5.00; p < 0.001), and zone of maximum tortuosity (4A vs. 4A; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between male and female subjects. Conclusion Normal DTA tortuosity increases with age. This is important to understand natural aging and for TEVAR planning and follow-up.