[Acute Stanford B aortic intramural hematoma: early and midterm follow-ups and morphological changes of computed...

To summarize the clinical performances and analyze the morphological characters of acute Stanford B aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) on computed tomography (CT).

From January 2010 to June 2012, a total of 28 IMH patients at General Hospital of People's Liberation Army were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 18 patients were followed up with CT. The data of vessel wall maximum thickness (MT), aortic maximum outside diameter (OD) and aortic inner diameter (ID) at onset and 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 12 months post-onset. Statistical analysis was performed with paired t-test.

No mortality occurred. Two patients received endovascular repair. According to the follow-ups of 18 IMH patients, MT was (12.1 ± 2.6) mm on CT. Hematoma disappeared in 44.4% patients at 6 months post-onset. Hematoma disappeared more in the patients with MT ≤ 10 mm than those with > 10 mm (85.7% vs 18.2%, P < 0.01). Hematoma disappeared in 13/15 patients (86.7%) at 12 months post-onset. OD decreased (7.3 ± 2.4) mm per year and (6.7 ± 3.5) and (0.6 ± 1.7) mm within the first 6 months and 6 months later respectively. OD increased (0.9 ± 0.5) mm after the disappearance of hematoma. ID increased (6.1 ± 2.3) mm per year and (4.7 ± 1.8) and (1.2 ± 1.0) mm within the first 6 months and 6 months later respectively.

The early and midterm outcomes of IHM are satisfactory most of hematoma disappear 12 months after onset. Hematoma disappears more rapidly in the patients with MT ≤ 10 mm than those with > 10 mm. OD reduces and ID increases before the disappearance of hematoma, and both increase afterward. Aortic cavity has a trend of dilating continually.