Figure 1: Aortic dissection is caused by bleeding within the aortic wall. The first 2 weeks after the onset of an aortic dissection is considered the acute stage, in which patients are highly ...

In patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and no other organ-system abnormalities, the absolute risk of aortic dissection is low but increases with larger aortic sizes, according to ...

An aortic dissection is a tear in one of the layers of the aorta. The aorta is your body’s largest blood vessel. Your aorta is made up of three layers. When a hole or tear forms in one of these layers ...

A 74-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 1-day history of severe chest and back pain. He has a history of hypertension and has run out of medication. He has no history of similar ...

Cardiothoracic surgeons have long played a central role in the care of patients with aortic dissection, a life-threatening condition that in the past was treated only with open surgery or medicines.

Thoracic aortic dissection occurs when the intima of the aorta becomes compromised and “tears” or “dissects” a new layer that fills with blood between the intima and the media. This “false lumen” can ...