Stanford classification of aortic dissection

Changed by Yaïr Glick, 17 Jan 2020

Updates to Article Attributes

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Along with the DeBakey classification, the Stanford classification is used to separate aortic dissections into those that need surgical repair, and those that usually require only medical management. The Stanford classification divides dissections by the most proximal involvement:

  • type A: A affects ascending aorta and arch
    • accounts for ~60% of aortic dissections
    • surgical management
    • may result in:
  • type B: B begins beyond brachiocephalic vessels
    • accounts for ~40% of aortic dissections
    • dissection commences distal to the left subclavian artery
    • medical management with blood pressure control

In 2014, a special report was published in Radiology 4 that recognised an uncommon form of aortic dissection. The authors describe dissections that originate from the arch or extendsextend proximally into the arch without the involvement of the ascending aorta which isare not adequately accounted for in the Stanford nor the DeBakey classification systems. Dissections in this region and, without the involvement of the ascending aorta proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk, are managed medically rather than surgically, provided there is no end-organ ischaemia. Hence, the authors proposed that any dissection originating from the arch between the brachiocephalic trunk and left subclavian artery and not involving the ascending aorta proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk be classified as a type B dissection. See case 10 for an example.

  • -<li>rupture into pericardial sac with resulting <a href="/articles/cardiac-tamponade">cardiac tamponade</a>
  • +<li>rupture into the pericardial sac with resulting <a href="/articles/cardiac-tamponade">cardiac tamponade</a>
  • -</ul><p>In 2014, a special report was published in <a title="Radiology (journal)" href="/articles/radiology-journal">Radiology</a><sup> 4</sup> that recognised an uncommon form of aortic dissection. The authors describe dissections that originate from the arch or extends proximally into the arch without the involvement of the ascending aorta which is not adequately accounted for in the Stanford nor the DeBakey classification systems. Dissections in this region and without the involvement of the ascending aorta proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk are managed medically rather than surgically, provided there is no end-organ ischaemia. Hence, the authors proposed any dissection originating from the arch between the brachiocephalic trunk and left subclavian artery and not involving the ascending aorta proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk be classified as a type B dissection.</p>
  • +</ul><p>In 2014, a special report was published in <a href="/articles/radiology-journal">Radiology</a><sup> 4</sup> that recognised an uncommon form of aortic dissection. The authors describe dissections that originate from the arch or extend proximally into the arch without the involvement of the ascending aorta which are not adequately accounted for in the Stanford nor the DeBakey classification systems. Dissections in this region, without the involvement of the ascending aorta proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk, are managed medically rather than surgically, provided there is no end-organ ischaemia. Hence, the authors proposed that any dissection originating from the arch between the brachiocephalic trunk and left subclavian artery and not involving the ascending aorta proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk be classified as a type B dissection. See case 10 for an example.</p>
Images Changes:

Image 2 Diagram (DeBakey III) ( update )

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Image 3 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Image 5 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 43: type B

Image 6 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 54: type A

Image 7 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 65: type A

Image 8 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 76: type A

Image 9 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 87: type A

Image 10 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( update )

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Case 98: type B

Image 11 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( create )

Image 12 CT (C+ arterial phase) ( create )

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