Effectiveness of intensive medical therapy in type B aortic dissection: A single-center experience

Objective Although the mainstay of managing acute descending thoracic aortic dissection (ADTAD) remains medical, certain patients will require emergency surgery for complications of rupture or ischemia. This study evaluates factors that affect outcome and determines which patients previously treated surgically would have been eligible for endovascular repair. Methods A single-institution retrospective study was conducted of patients who presented with clinical signs of ADTAD that was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography (CT). All patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and medically managed to maintain systolic blood pressure 70 years ( P = .057), previous abdominal aortic aneurysm repair ( P = .018), tobacco use ( P = .039), and the presence of leg pain at initial presentation ( P = .013). As