Abstract

The early and late results of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (TAAAD) has improved significantly since the 1960s. The common causes of death are perioperative bleeding and organ dysfunction because of the dissected aorta. The commonly reported variables that predict surgical mortality are preoperative shock, advanced age (> 70 years old), and malperfusion of distal organs. The late (postdischarge) survival rate for patients with TAAAD is consistently lower than that of the general population. Surveillance of these patients of aortic expansion, cardiac disease, and medical adherence to anti-impulse therapies is important. Late reoperation rates among these patients are decreasing and the mortality rates of reoperation have become acceptable. Distal aortic reoperation is more common than proximal aortic reoperation, and preventing open repair might be promising with endovascular techniques.