Beta-blockers in non-surgical patients with type A aortic dissection.

ABSTRACT

Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is a catastrophic condition with 24-48% mortality during the first day, if patients are not surgically treated. Due to old age and associated co-morbidities surgeons may be reluctant to operate and patients are administered medical therapy for the end of reducing systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Beta-blockers (BB) are the "medications of choice". Based on physical and physiological considerations, it was hypothesized that BB may actually exacerbate TAAD.