Acute aortic dissection: playing Dhoni 'the finisher' vs Dhoni 'the anchor'.

Even in the present era, acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) remains one of the most challenging condition in cardiothoracic surgery with a high mortality rate. There have been various surgical techniques and innovations over the years to reduce the mortality and morbidity of these patients. Though there is consensus that the ascending aorta has to be replaced, the controversy still exists on the distal extend of replacing the aorta. Few surgeons opt for a less extensive approach, while others back the extensive frozen elephant trunk. The former defend that extensive surgery has increased morbidity and mortality, while the later argue that multiple entry points are taken care of helping in false lumen thrombosis. But eventually, the short-term goal remains the same - save the patient's life by addressing the tear in the ascending aorta. © Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2020.