Acute Type B Aortic Pathology Mimicking Acute Type A Intramural Hematoma with Organ Malperfusion

The management of acute Stanford Type A intramural hematoma (IMH) of the aorta remains controversial. Most surgeons advocate emergency surgery in a manner similar to frank acute Type A dissection. Others recommend a conservative approach to this distinct clinicopathological entity. We describe a case of acute aortic pathology initially diagnosed as Type A IMH with organ malperfusion, subsequently identified as acute Type B pathology with retrograde and antegrade extension. An endovascular approach was successfully used to exclude the site of origin.