Introduction
Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is one of the most dramatic
life-threatening diseases with an incidence that may be significantly
higher than previously assumed based on previous retrospective studies
[1-5]. This is underlined by the fact that up to one-half of ATAAD
cases are detected only at autopsy [5]. Accumulation of experience,
development of diagnostic tools, and improved treatment strategies have
resulted in improved results of surgical treatment over time: according
to International Registry of Aortic Dissection (IRAD), operative
mortality dropped over time from 25 to 18% [6]. However, mortality
rates remain very high in the group of patients presenting with
unstable, critical conditions: about one-third of ATAAD patients present
with hemodynamical instability or malperfusion of one or more organ
systems [7]. The surgical options for ATAAD treatment include an
impressive range of aortic interventions, depending on the extent of
pathology and patient’s condition. In this study, we present an overall
review of results of one of the most commonly performed procedures in
ATAAD patients – aortic root replacement with the Bentall procedure.