Surgical Treatment of Acute and Chronic Aortic Dissection Distal to the Subclavian Artery

Joseph S. Coselliy Ciineyt Koksoyy Zachary C. Schmittlingy and Scott A. LeMaire Aortic dissection-a tear in the intima and inner media with subsequent pro­

gressive separation of the aortic wall layers-is the most common catastrophic event involving the aorta. Acute aortic dissection occurs in approximately 5-10 patients per million of population per year. The aorta distal to the left subclavian artery is involved in the vast majority of cases. Without treatment, 60% of patients with acute distal aortic dissection die within one month.