Two papers published in the May 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that a nonsurgical technique is safe and effective for treating people with aortic dissection, a condition that begins with a tear injury that progressively expands through the aorta, the large artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Aortic dissection is one of the most dangerous diseases of the aorta.
In the U.S., about 10 to 20 cases per million people occur annually. Until now, people with aortic dissection have typically been treated with surgery or drugs. However, treatment is often followed by severe complications such as rupture of the aorta and death. This nonsurgical technique is currently being used in various medical centers to repair aortic dissections. Inc. All rights reserved.