Outcome of open and endovascular repair in acute type B aortic dissection: a retrospective and observational study.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze surgical and endovascular results in the treatment of acute type B aortic dissection (B AAD).

Methods: Retrospective and observational analysis with patient inclusion between January 2001-December 2008 and follow-up ranged from 2 to 96 months (median = 47.2) was performed.

Radial artery achieves better flowmetric results than saphenous vein in the elderly.

Due to the limited life expectancy and the supposed higher morbidity with complete arterial grafting, extensive arterial graft in the elderly is still questioned. It was the aim of this study to evaluate transit time flow and clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic results of elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with either saphenous vein (SV) or radial artery (RA) employed as the second conduit of choice. The present study evaluates clinical and flowmetric results of a prospective series of elderly patients (>or=70 years old) undergoing RA CABG (75 patients, Group A) or SV CABG (163 patients, Group B) during isolated myocardial revascularization, performed either off-pump (OPCABG) and on-pump during the last 5 years at a single academic institution (between January 2003 and December 2007).