Questions and Certainty in Diagnosis and Management of Acute Type B Aortic Dissection.

Abstract

Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) is a severe cardiovascular condition that requires timely diagnosis and intervention to prevent life-threatening complications. The aim of this review was to focus on the most crucial and controversial aspects of contemporary TBAD management. It is recognized that in the acute phase, computed tomography angiography (CTA) plays an essential role in evaluating the extent of the dissection and monitoring disease progression. CTA has significantly improved the management of TBAD by providing detailed assessments of aortic anatomy and dynamic flow changes, positioning it as the cornerstone imaging modality for identifying acute high-risk patients who may require early intervention. Recently, new advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) technology have the potential to provide further information beyond imaging alone. However, such sophisticated techniques should be reserved for stable patients after the acute phase. After decades of medical therapy and high risk surgery, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery for complicated TBAD, offering lower perioperative morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, its use in uncomplicated TBAD remains a topic of ongoing debate. While recent studies suggest that preemptive TEVAR combined with optimal medical therapy may reduce late adverse events and improve long-term outcomes, these findings remain controversial. This review critically analyzes the current literature on both diagnosis and TEVAR treatment, evaluating these controversies in the context of clinical practice.