Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is a rather rare but often life-threatening cause of thoraco-abdominal pain. AAS includes acute aortic dissection (AD), intramural hematoma (IMH) and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), in which the latter may progress to AD. Suddenly emerging severe pain localized in the chest, back or the abdomen is rather characteristic for acute AD, but painless courses of the disease are also possible. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial for prognosis and survival. Aortic contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the method of choice due to its broad availability, distinguished accuracy and rapid feasibility. In instable patients, transoesophagel echocardiography by an experienced examiner is also applicable. Patients suffering from Type A AD need urgent surgery in most cases, patients.
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart.