Impact of Imaging advances in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of acute aortic syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: acute aortic syndrome is a term that refers to various diseases with clinical characteristics; including aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. 

Objective: to describe the impact of advances in Imaging on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of Acute Aortic Syndrome. 

Methods: during the months of September and December 2023, 56 sources were reviewed in the electronic databases Pubmed, Medline and SciELO, using the Google Scholar search engine, with the descriptors: "Aortic syndrome", "Radiological manifestations", "Surgical treatment", 32 citations in English and Spanish were used. 

Development: acute Aortic Syndrome occurs due to an acute process in the aortic wall, which gives rise to relatively similar symptoms, the most representative of which is chest pain. To achieve the correct diagnosis, a high degree of clinical suspicion is required, as well as the appropriate use of imaging techniques, including computed tomography, transesophageal echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. 

Conclusions: acute aortic syndrome constitutes one of the most dramatic and serious cardiovascular emergencies, where the adequate, timely and rational use of images for diagnosis constitutes one of the pillars for appropriate medical action in the face of this clinical syndrome. Surgery for the treatment of Acute Aortic Syndrome has been shown to decrease mortality in the first days after the primary event, and subsequently increase survival compared to a conservative approach.