Management of Acute Aortic Dissection

Abstract

Aortic dissection is characterized by the separation of the layers of the media by a column of circulating blood with variable proximal and distal extension throughout the entire length of the aorta. The extravasated blood may remain within the false lumen with eventual thrombosis or may rupture through the aortic wall leading to fatal haemorrhage into the pericardium or left pleura.