Aortic Dissection and the Left Renal Artery

Abstract

Angiographic and/or autopsy evidence of compromises of arterial circulation to the left kidney was found in 22 of 37 patients with aortic dissection. Severe hypertension occurred in 6 patients with renal ischemia, suggesting that marked blood pressure elevations occasionally seen in patients with aortic dissection are due to acute renal artery damage. The combination of a large intimal tear, good flow in the dissected channel, and re-entry of the renal artery resulted in a considerable contribution from the false lumen. Angiographic evaluation of the extent of aortic dissection is an important consideration in therapy.