Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) versus open versus medical management of type B dissection

Despite improvements in diagnosis and management, aortic dissection remains a lethal disease. Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) comprises approximately one third of all acute aortic dissections with management of this disease undergoing revolutionary changes since the introduction of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) (1). Acute dissections are defined as those with delay from onset of symptoms to presentation shorter than 14 days. Approximately 25–40% of TBAD are considered complicated, with at least one of the following characteristics: end organ or lower extremity malperfusion, rupture, shock, neurologic compromise, refractory pain, refractory hypertension, or early progression of disease (2).