An acute aortic dissection is a separation of the inner and outer layers of the aortic wall. This results in two separate channels of blood forming within the aorta. This condition represents an emergency situation and requires prompt evaluation and treatment.
There are two types of acute aortic dissection — Type A and Type B:
Many of the factors that are known to cause an aortic aneurysm formation may also lead to an aortic dissection.
An aortic dissection that persists for more than two weeks is classified as chronic. It is most commonly found in patients with Type B aortic dissection. If untreated, it may lead to aneurysm formation.
Endovascular repair (also called endovascular stenting) is one of the most recent advancements in aortic surgery. It is used in patients whose anatomy is "favorable"—that is, their aneurysms or dissections do not span any major arteries.
Genetic evaluation is becoming an important part of personalized care, as many health conditions have a genetic basis and genetic test results can help to guide medical decisions. Our genetic counselors provide consultations related to cancer genetics, cardiovascular genetics and prenatal genetics.
