Aortic dissections: recent endovascular therapeutic advances and current indications

Dissection is one of the most serious diseases of the aorta if only because of its potential for rupture, but also for other complications which may be fatal. Replacement with a prosthesis remains the treatment of reference as an emergency for proximal dissection and as an elective procedure for selected cases of distal dissection with complications. Despite steady progress in ancillary management (distal perfusion, circulatory arrest, cardiac, neurological and visceral protection) the operation remains a very invasive procedure. Aortic endoprostheses represent the therapeutic innovation of the decade for the treatment of aortic aneurysms and their use could be extended to dissections, at least for the most distal forms and to patients at very high surgical risk.