Is an aortic dissection a dangerous condition?

An aortic dissection is a life-threatening emergency. As many as 40% of people who experience aortic dissections die instantly, and the risk of death increases 1-3% every hour. Between 75-90% of patients who experience the most common type of dissections die within one week if not treated appropriately. While some types of aortic dissections do not require emergency surgery, most do. Regardless, patients with acute aortic dissections require emergency referral to a center that specializes in the treatment of aortic diseases and evaluation by a cardiovascular surgeon.