What is the risk from an aortic dissection?
The early mortality (death rate) is about one percent per hour, so the sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Aortic dissections that involve the ascending thoracic aorta (referred to as type A) are at high risk of aortic rupture, which can be fatal. This condition requires urgent surgery to replace the ascending portion of the aorta. Conversely, aortic dissections that do not involve the ascending thoracic aorta (referred to as type B) are at much lower risk of aortic rupture, and are therefore managed with medications rather than surgery, in most cases.
