A surgical treatment of ruptured aortic dissection with non-opacified false lumen

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our intensive care unit suffering from severe chest pain and shock. Emergency CT scan demonstrated an acute type A aortic dissection with non-opacified false lumen and cardiac tamponade. The aortography showed ulcer like projection at the ascending aorta. An emergency operation was performed to replace the ascending aorta with a woven double-velour Dacron graft of 30 mm in diameter. It seems that an acute type A aortic dissection with non-opacified false lumen has good prognosis. The presence of other complications, however, suggests that surgical treatment should be decided upon at an early stage.