Fig. 2

Representative aortic dissection findings upon admission and on hospital days 12, 57, 109, and 140. a-c Two-dimensional, contrast-enhanced computed tomography upon admission shows a Stanford type B aortic dissection originating from the left subclavian artery (a) to the abdominal aorta at the level of the renal arteries (b). An axial section shows no aortic dissection at the level of the renal arteries and equal contrast enhancement in both kidneys (c). Sagittal two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiography image obtained on day 12 (blue arrow) showing that the true lumen was more severely compressed by the false than that denoted on the scan taken just after admission (d). (e-i) CT scans of day 57. Sagittal view recorded by two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiography (e), three-dimensional CT angiography (f), and axial sections (g-i) showing the true lumen more severely compressed by the false lumen (blue arrow) than that noted on the scans taken on day 12. j Sagittal view recorded pre-operatively on two-dimensional CT angiography showing the true lumen more severely compressed by the false lumen (blue arrow) than that noted in the scan taken on day 57. k Pre-operative three-dimensional CT angiography reveals the false lumen tightly compressing the true lumen (blue arrow). Despite the compression on the thoracic part (blue arrow), on the abdominal level there is no anatomical obstruction; no static obstruction of the renal arteries is evident (red arrows). l After aortic graft replacement, three-dimensional CT angiography indicated that the patency of the aorta was successfully re-established (blue arrow). Changes in the morphology of the renal arteries are not apparent (red arrows). Blue arrows indicate the site of existing dissection (a, d-f, j, k), and the site where the graft was inserted (l); red arrows indicate renal arteries (b, c, g-i, k, l)