Inter-rater reliability
In the subset of 10 patients used to evaluate inter-rater reliability,
most aortic measurements were found to have acceptable to excellent
inter-rater reliability, including average aortic diameter at PAB
(ICC=0.74, 95% CI: 0.42–0.92, P <0.001), max aortic
diameter at PAB (ICC=0.93, 95% CI: 0.70–0.99,P <0.001), average aortic diameter at STJ (ICC=0.75,
95% CI: 0.46–0.92, P <0.001), and max aortic diameter
at STJ (ICC=0.71, 95% CI: 0.49–0.93, P <0.001).
Although the inter-rater reliability was low for tortuosity (ICC=0.36,
95% CI: -0.001–0.75, P =0.029), this measurement had reduced
variability, which can greatly impact these ICC analyses.
COMMENT
Ascending aortic length was significantly higher among patients who
presented with ATAAD. However, more than 80% of patients who presented
with ATAAD in this cohort had an aortic diameter less than the cut-off
value for an elective ascending aortic replacement. Assessment of
ascending aortic length may be valuable as a predictive marker for
aortic events.