Otherwise known as an aortic root aneurysm, a dilated aortic root is when the first section of the aorta, where the aortic valve resides, becomes enlarged. When this enlargement reaches a critical size, there is a risk of it rupturing or tearing, leading to a life-threatening situation.
The aorta is the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body. The aortic root is located near where the aorta and the heart connect.
Aortic dilatation may lead to aortic dissection or aortic rupture. The chance of aortic dissection is related to the aortic diameter. In 2002, Davies et al15 identified that the median aortic diameter at the time of rupture for the ascending or aortic arch was 6.0 cm.
Dilated aortic root (DAR) is a relatively common finding, with a reported prevalence of about 4% measured at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva in the general population.
The aortic root is the portion of the aorta that is attached to the heart. A major part of the aortic root is the aortic valve, which allows blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body when it is open and prevents blood from flowing backwards into the heart when it is closed.
The term 'aortic root' refers to the aortic valve from its position at the left ventricular outlet to its junction with the ascending portion of the aorta. Anatomically, this whole structure is the aortic valve. The normal aortic valve is more complex than its three semilunar leaflets suggests.
Nevertheless, by common convention, aortic dilatation refers to a dimension that is greater than the 95th percentile for the normal person age, sex and body size. In contrast, an aneurysm is defined as a localized dilation of the aorta that is more than 50% of predicted (ratio of observed to expected diameter ≥ 1.5).
Abstract. Background: The aorta is considered pathologically dilated if the diameters of the ascending aorta and the aortic root exceed the norms for a given age and body size. A 50% increase over the normal diameter is considered aneurysmal dilatation.
Surgery is generally recommended for thoracic aortic aneurysms about 1.9 to 2.4 inches (about 5 to 6 centimeters) and larger. Surgery may be recommended for smaller aneurysms if you have a family history of aortic dissection or a condition linked to aortic aneurysm, such as Marfan syndrome.
The ascending aorta has two parts: Aortic root: The root is the first part of the ascending aorta, closest to the aortic valve. It includes the aortic sinuses, which are bulb-shaped cavities from which the right and left coronary arteries arise.
Dilation of the aortic root imparts a significant higher risk of adverse events. A diameter shift for intervention to 5.0 cm for the aortic root and to 5.25 cm for the mid‐ascending aorta should be considered at expert centers.