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[摘要] In acute Type A aortic dissection, a tear occurs in the wall of the body’s main artery, the aorta. Emergent surgery offers by far the best chances for survival. However, even after surgery mortality is high. The authors of the article determined causes of death in 123 patients who died following surgical repair of acute Type A dissection. They identified heart failure, stroke (bleeding or lack of perfusion of vessels in the brain) and bleeding as major causes of death. Aortic dissection can impair perfusion of organs such as the brain, kidneys, limbs or bowels before surgery, which is a major risk factor for complications and death after surgery. New surgical tech-niques should address these major causes of death after surgery for in acute Type A dissection.