[Surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection]

The author initially describes the principal clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings which confirm the diagnosis. A description of the operative technique demonstrates the important progress made possible through the use of G.R.F. biological glue. The results indicate a low mortality rate in hospitalized patients if the patient was less than 65 years of age and if surgery was performed in the first 24 hours. Long-term results are also satisfactory, with a mortality rate of 3.5% over an average follow-up period of 52 months.