Current status of medical therapy of acute dissecting aneurysms of the aorta

In 6 series of patients with acute dissecting aneurysms of the aorta reported during 1970–1979, the best results were obtained by intensive drug therapy initially to correct hypertension and stabilize the patient, then diagnosis by aortography, and then surgical repair for Type A aneurysms involving the ascending aorta, and drug therapy alone for Type B aneurysms involving the descending thoracic aorta. Using this plan of treatment, mortality rates were 30% in patients with Type A dissections (surgical therapy) and 20% in those with Type B dissections (drug therapy).