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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffAn aortic dissection is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Therapy may include surgery or medications, depending on the area of the aorta involved.
Surgery is the preferred treatment for type A aortic dissections. During the surgical procedure, surgeons remove as much of the dissected aorta as possible, block the entry of blood into the aortic wall, and reconstruct the aorta with a metal or plastic tube called a graft. Sometimes stents — small wire mesh tubes that act as a sort of scaffolding — may be placed in the aorta.
Aortic dissections may be treated with medications, such as beta blockers and sodium nitroprusside, to relieve the force of blood on the aortic wall by reducing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. With reduced blood force, the aortic dissection is less likely to worsen. These medications may be used to prepare a patient for surgery. Most people with type B dissections can be treated with medications alone.
After treatment many people with aortic dissections need to take blood pressure lowering medication for the rest of their lives. In addition, they'll often need a follow-up CT or MRI scan to monitor their condition.
