title: Acute type A aortic dissection: an update on a still challenging disease.
abstract: The aim of this report is to offer a concise review of the current knowledge of type A aortic dissection aetiology and pathogenesis, to propose an updated diagnostic algorithm, to provide descriptions of current surgical and endovascular techniques for treatment, and to emphasise criteria for patient follow-up. Additional information regarding the institutional experience developed in a tertiary university hospital with a 25-year exposure to aortic dissection is also included to provide a comprehensive view of a clinical entity that still challenges physicians and surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. fsant@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montalbano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faggian
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003663:Decision Trees; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome