Surgery for aortic dissection: 53 operated cases with 32 in the acute phase

53 cases of aortic dissections were operated on between 1961 and 1975 in the Service of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Broussais Hospital, Paris (Prof. Ch. Dubost). The present study deals with 32 cases operated on in the acute phase. 31 originated in the ascending aorta and 1 in the descending aorta. Operative mortality was 50% (16/32), 4 patients died immediately following sternotomy. Operation consisted in replacement of the ascending aorta for the majority of type I and II dissections. When aortic insufficiency was present, a simple resuspension procedure was effective in 50% of cases. The authors prefer early operative intervention in type I and II dissections and medical treatment in type III dissections.