Surgical Fenestration for Lower Limb Ischemia Developing from Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection: A Report of 2 Cases

Abstract

Lower limb ischemia caused by type B aortic dissection typically presents with a leg-threatening condition in the acute phase. However, in some cases, lower limb ischemia symptom develops as intermittent claudication in the chronic phase. Although surgical fenestration has been used for treating ischemic complications of aortic dissection, it has recently become an alternative option for such cases because of the significant advance of endovascular treatments. We report 2 cases of chronic type B aortic dissection complicated by lower limb ischemia. Two male patients aged 57 and 43years presented with intermittent claudication more than 2 weeks after the onset of the disease. On the basis of anatomic condition of the dissected aorta, we successfully performed surgical fenestration through a median laparotomy. In the current endovascular era, surgical fenestration remains an effective and durable option for treating lower limb ischemia caused by chronic type B aortic dissection.