title: Acute thoracic aortic dissection: how to defuse a time bomb.
abstract: Acute thoracic aortic dissection is frequently misdiagnosed, and even with surgical intervention, the mortality rate is 50%. This article focuses on assessment, interventions, and postoperative care of patients with aortic dissection.
authors.affiliation: Heart Surgical Unit, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McClarren-Curry
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shaughnessy
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*