Distribution of intimomedial tears in patients with type B aortic dissection.

Objective: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is a promising means of treating patients with complicated type B aortic dissection by excluding the intimomedial tears. This study aims to characterize the location of tears and to propose a classification of type B aortic dissections based on these findings.

Methods: Advanced protocols in computed tomography scans of patients with type B aortic dissection were used to identify the size and location of intimomedial tears in relation to the origin of the left subclavian artery.