[Evaluation of the characteristics of aortic dissection by computed angio-tomography in the Mexican population]

To review aortic dissection (AD) in the Mexican population.

A retrospective study was conducted using 434 medical records of patients with aortic angio-tomography between November 2014 and October 2015. A sample was obtained of 32 patients with a first time diagnosis of AD. An analysis was performed of the dissections according to gender, age group, Stanford/De Bakey classification, and mortality rate 6 months after diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed by obtaining the Chi squared index for the independent variables of gender, Marfan syndrome, systemic arterial hypertension, as well as calcified atheromatous disease in association with dissection subtypes, re-entry sites, and hypo-perfusion signs.

The patients included 65.6% males with a mean age of 54.5 years, and 34.4% females with mean age of 42.5 years. The most common dissection subtype was B/3. Mortality rate at 6 months was 18.7%. There was a significant association, with a marginal P in patients with Marfan syndrome and Stanford subtypes of AD (P=.0506). There was a significant association in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, when compared with Stanford subtypes of AD (P=.047104).

AD is an emergency in which diagnosis and timely management are essential to improve prognosis. In the sample presented here, a significant association was found in patients with a history of Marfan syndrome and abdominal aneurysms with dissections according to the Stanford classification. The rest of the independent variables did not show any significant association, probably related to the size of the sample.