Management of Acute, Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection

Management of acute complicated Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) requires a multidisciplinary approach with careful evaluation and understanding of the complicating features. Patients who present with or progress to a complicated TBAD must be triaged and managed rapidly due to the high morbidity and mortality even in the presence of optimal medical, endovascular, and open therapies. When required, invasive therapies can be broken down most simply into four treatments: thoracic endograft placement, aortic fenestration, branch vessel stenting, and open repair. However, which therapy to offer and in which order is often unclear. In this review, focus is placed on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and explanation for one or a combination of these therapies. In addition, contraindications as well as expected outcomes, complications, and adjunct therapies will be reviewed. The advent of advanced endovascular techniques has certainly improved the immediate morbidity and mortality of acute complicated TBAD; however, much remains to learn about patient selection and therapeutic intervention performed.