Acute aortic dissection type A: case series and insights on incidence, management and outcomes

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality rates, despite significant advances in surgical approaches. The understanding of the clinical presentation and outcomes is crucial in order to upgrade management strategies. However, epidemiological data regarding AAD occurrence are scarce in Europe, highlighting the gap of evidence in the existing guidelines.

We investigated 197 consecutive patients admitted to our institution from January 2018 to December 2019 with suspicion of type A AAD, conducting a retrospective case series. All demographic characteristics, as well as the outcomes of these patients, were recorded and further analyzed to deliver data on the epidemiology of AAD. A total of 197 patients were admitted to our hospital with a suspected AAD. Forty-one (25.9 %) patients presented with a dilated aortic lumen or with a previously repaired aortic dissection, while 28 patients (14.2 %) were diagnosed with AAD (14 patients with type A AAD, 13 with type B AAD and 1 with intramural hematoma). Among 14 patients with type A AAD, nine patients (64.0 %) were treated surgically, while the rest were managed conservatively due to futile clinical status or inability for immediate transportation to a surgical facility. The most frequent initial symptom was chest pain in 86.0 % of patients, followed by dyspnea in 42.9 %. Post-surgical mortality was 33.0 %, while all patients that were managed conservatively did not survive. D-dimers on arrival were significantly lower among patients who survived compared to those who did not.

The incidence of type A AAD in our case series was consistent with the one demonstrated in other international cohorts; however, the mortality in our patient group was higher. Our results encourage surgical treatment due to a lower in-hospital mortality rate when compared to conservative treatment. HIPPOKRATIA 2021, 25 (1):42-46.