Management of a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm during Pregnancy Leading to the Diagnosis of Takayasu Arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory arteritis affecting large vessels, predominantly the aorta and its main branches. We report the case of a patient presenting with the rapid growth of a thoracic aortic aneurysm during pregnancy leading to the diagnosis of Takayasu disease and treated by a rapid delivery by cesarean section followed by an open aortic repair. One year after the operation the patient and her baby are alive and well.

The dicrotic notch analyzed by a numerical model.

Divergent concepts on the origin of the dicrotic notch are widespread in medical literature and education. Since most medical textbooks explain the origin of the dicrotic notch as caused by the aortic valve closure itself, this is commonly transmitted in medical physiology courses. We present clinical data and numerical simulations to demonstrate that reflected pressure waves could participate as one of the causes of the dicrotic notch.

Surgical management of a ballistic trauma of the right ventricle and descending thoracic aorta.

Ballistic injuries of the descending aorta are uncommon and of extremely severe prognosis. We report the case of a 55-year-old man treated for such a thoracic trauma that combined wounds of the heart and descending thoracic aorta. A combination of conventional surgical and endovascular approaches enabled successful treatment.