Surgical treatment of aortic dissections

Abstract

The treatment algorithms for type A and B acute aortic dissec tions are constantly changing. In the last decade the role of the surgery in patients affected by acute proximal aortic dissection has been confirmed to be mandatory, in relation to the poor out come of medical treatment in this aortic segment. In acute type B aortic dissections the role of surgery has reduced to approx imately 15% of cases, being medical management (e.g. anti hypertensive, cardiac output suppressive) actually the preferred treatment for uncomplicated patients, and the intro duction of newer management strategies, such as percuta neous catheter-based techniques of fenestration or stent-grafts, continuously increasing, having showed the potential to improve outcomes. Our review focus on current debated procedures adopted to treat surgically these patients.