Acute Aortic Dissection

An acute aortic dissection occurs when there is a tear in the inner wall of the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.

An aortic dissection is life threatening and requires immediate treatment. Initially, it may be mistaken for a heart attack. But it’s important to diagnose it correctly because the treatment for an aortic dissection is different than it would be for a heart attack.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is a regional center for aortic dissection treatment. It has assembled a team of cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other specialists who are highly skilled in treating this uncommon condition.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital has developed standardized guidelines and systems to care for all cardiovascular emergencies. These streamlined processes have been applied to aortic dissection treatment and are helping hospitals throughout the region provide better care for patients with aortic dissection. As a result, it has reduced the time it takes to diagnose and begin treating aortic dissection. This approach is saving lives – the mortality rate among aortic dissection patients treated by the Minneapolis Heart Institute® has decreased by 50 percent since the standardized guidelines were implemented in 2005.

An acute aortic dissection occurs when there is a tear in the inner wall of the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.

An aortic dissection is life threatening and requires immediate treatment. Initially, it may be mistaken for a heart attack. But it’s important to diagnose it correctly because the treatment for an aortic dissection is different than it would be for a heart attack.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is a regional center for aortic dissection treatment. It has assembled a team of cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other specialists who are highly skilled in treating this uncommon condition.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital has developed standardized guidelines and systems to care for all cardiovascular emergencies. These streamlined processes have been applied to aortic dissection treatment and are helping hospitals throughout the region provide better care for patients with aortic dissection. As a result, it has reduced the time it takes to diagnose and begin treating aortic dissection. This approach is saving lives – the mortality rate among aortic dissection patients treated by the Minneapolis Heart Institute® has decreased by 50 percent since the standardized guidelines were implemented in 2005.

Cardiologists

• Kevin Harris, MD
• Tim Henry, MD
• Quirino Orlandi, MD
• Yale Wang, MD

• Frazier Eales, MD
• Tim Kroshus, MD

• Jonathan Cohen, MD

• Chris Kapsner, MD
• Chris Obetz, MD

• Subi Inampudi, MD

• Mary Kalb, RN
• Barb Unger, RN

• Gina Adolphson