Cardiac: Practice Question
A 64 year old female presents with sharp chest pain and is found to have a dissecting aortic aneurysm confined to the ascending aorta. What is the appropriate classification of this lesion?
- DeBakey Classification type II
- DeBakey Classification type I
- DeBakey Classification type IIIa
- Stanford Classification type B
- DeBakey Classification type IIIb
Show Answer and Explanations
DeBakey Classification type II — Correct answer
Correct. DeBakey type II dissections are confined to the ascending aorta. Dissections involving the ascending aorta have a worse prognosis and are more urgent and complicated to treat than dissections involving the descending aorta only.DeBakey Classification type I
Incorrect. DeBakey type I dissections involve both the ascending and descending aorta.DeBakey Classification type IIIa
Incorrect. DeBakey type IIIa dissections originate distal to the left subclavian artery and progress proximally and distally.Stanford Classification type B
Incorrect. Stanford type B lesions involve only the descending aorta, defined as distal to the left subclavian artery. Stanford type A lesions involve the ascending aorta and arch.DeBakey Classification type IIIb
Incorrect. DeBakey type IIIa dissections originate distal to the left subclavian artery and progress only distally.Summary
Summary:| DeBakey I | Ascending + Descending aorta |
|---|---|
| DeBakey II | Ascending aorta |
| DeBakey IIIA | Descending aorta, extends proximal and distal |
| DeBakey IIIB | Descending aorta, extends distal |
| Stanford A | Ascending +/- descending aorta |
| Stanford B | Descending aorta only |