Acute Aortic Syndromes: Update in Current Medical Management

Advances in medical therapy and non-surgical percutaneous options to manage the specter of acute aortic syndromes have improved both patient morbidity and mortality. There are key features in the patient history and initial exam which physicians should be attuned to in order to diagnose acute aortic syndromes such as aortic dissection, penetrating aortic ulcer, and intramural hematoma. Once recognized, early initiation of the appropriate pharmacologic therapy is important, and further appreciating the limitations of such therapy before considering a surgical approach is critical to improve patient outcomes. For the undifferentiated patient with acute aortic dissection presenting to facilities who do not routinely manage this condition, adding pharmacologic agents in the correct sequence assures the best chance for a satisfactory outcome.