Indications for replacement of the thoracic aorta.

Thoracic aortic diseases that require surgical management include aneurysms of the root, ascending, arch or descending aorta; aortic dissections and thoracoabdominal aneurysms. These pathologic processes encompass acute and chronic presentations. Early detection is the key to positively affect survival. The final treatment for these pathologies is surgical but medical therapy can prevent disease progression and many times obviate the need for surgery. In this article, we review the most common thoracic aortic diseases and their management.