Task Force Report Diagnosis and management of aortic dissection* Recommendations of the Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology†

Page Preamble ..................................................................1642 Introduction.............................................................1643 Aortic wall disease...................................................1643 Inherited disease ..................................................1643 Aortic disease in infancy and childhood .............1645 Ageing of the aorta..............................................1645 Aetiology of aortic aneurysm and dissection ......1647 Aortic dissection staging .........................................1648 class 1 — classical aortic dissection .....................1649 class 2 — intramural haemorrhage/haematoma...1649 class 3 — subtle/discrete aortic dissection............1650 class 4 — plaque rupture/ulceration.....................1650 class 5 — traumatic/iatrogenic aortic dissection ..1651 Clinical management ...............................................1651 Clinical features ...................................................1651 Initial diagnostic steps in the emergency room ...1652 Initial therapeutic decisions .................................1653 Diagnostic requirements ..........................................1654 Evolving — acute aortic dissection ......................1654 Additional information........................................1657 Imaging modalities ..................................................1658 Transthoracic/transoesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE) .......................................................1659 Computed tomography........................................1660