Acute dissection of the aorta: long-term review and management.

A review of 50 cases of acute dissection of the aorta managed over a period of almost 15 years showed that patients with either proximal or complex dissections had a better prognosis when managed surgically, whereas medical treatment offered a better change of survival in patients with distal dissection. Angiography was generally safe and reliable, most cases being correctly diagnosed by this means. The majority of patients can be managed conservatively in the initial stages.