Early Acute Aortic Dissection After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Patients having Stanford type A acute dissection soon after cardiac surgery have a high risk of rupture and death. The presentation, management, and outcome of primary dissection of the ascending aorta (Stanford type A or De Bakey type I or II) are well described. However, patients with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection soon (3-4 weeks) after primary cardiac surgery have distinctly different presentation, management, and postoperative outcome. In this report, we describe the clinical and surgical findings of a patient with early Stanford type A acute aortic dissection four weeks after primary coronary artery bypass grafting.