Dissection of the thoracic aorta following partial clamping

A case is reported in which an extensive dissection of the thoracic aorta was observed after partial clamping during surgery on that blood vessel. The unfavourable outcome of the operation and the accurate investigation of the post-mortem material suggest a lesion of the artery wall secondary to tangential clamping by Satinsky's clamp. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms of lesions induced by vascular clamping are also discussed.