"Time is aorta?": Timeliness of surgical repair in type A aortic dissection.

Acute type A aortic dissection is a life-threatening event that requires prompt management, a complex interaction among the timing of aortic surgical repair, presence or absence of organ malperfusion, and surgical outcomes exists. Whether resection of intimal entry tear should be deferred after reversal of malperfusion and end-organ ischemia is a matter of controversy. In fact, the timing of aortic repair should be considered within the clinical presentation and baseline characteristics of each patient. Moreover, every effort should be made to minimize times between symptom onset, diagnosis, and surgery.