A recent survey of cardiac surgeons across India highlights big differences in how doctors treat acute Type A aortic dissection, a dangerous tear in the body’s main artery. Led by Dr. Lokeswara Rao Sajja and published in the October 2025 issue of the Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the study shows that while some hospitals use cutting-edge methods, others struggle with issues like poor infrastructure, patients arriving too late, and missed diagnoses. The big lesson? Getting to a specialized cardiac center for quick surgery can make all the difference in saving lives.
### What Makes Aortic Dissection So Dangerous?
Imagine your aorta—the large blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart—suddenly tearing. That’s aortic dissection, a rare but deadly emergency that can kill within hours if untreated. Studies show the risk of death jumps by one to two people every hour without help. In acute Type A aortic dissection, the tear hits the upper part of the aorta near the heart, demanding immediate action.
### How Often Does It Strike in India?
Worldwide, aortic dissection affects about 3 to 6 people out of every 100,000 each year. In India, numbers look similar, at 5 to 6 cases per 100,000. With more than 1.4 billion people in the country, that means thousands of Indians face this threat annually. The problem? Many cases get overlooked or mistaken for a heart attack or stroke, and patients often pass away before reaching medical care.
### Who’s Most at Risk for Aortic Dissection?
High blood pressure tops the list of risk factors for aortic dissection. Men over 50 face higher odds, along with those who have genetic issues like Marfan syndrome or a bicuspid aortic valve. Watch for warning signs such as sudden, severe chest pain, intense back pain, or fainting—these scream for emergency help. Raising public awareness and training doctors to spot these symptoms early could prevent many tragedies.
### Why Surgery Is the Key to Survival
For acute Type A aortic dissection, surgery offers the only real shot at survival. Surgeons replace the damaged section of the aorta with an artificial graft to stop it from bursting or causing heart failure. Skip the operation, and most patients won’t make it past a few days. But with timely surgery, survival rates soar, and many people go on to live full, active lives.
### A Game-Changing New Approach: The Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique
Traditional surgeries targeted just the upper aorta. Now, innovative procedures like the Frozen Elephant Trunk are changing the game. This method blends open-heart surgery with a stent graft to fix the tear while protecting the aortic arch and lower sections. It cuts down on future problems and boosts long-term quality of life for the right patients.
### Spreading the Word on Aortic Dissection Awareness
Aortic dissection might not grab headlines like heart attacks or strokes, but it’s just as lethal. Dr. Lokeswara Rao Sajja urges everyone to learn the symptoms, act fast, and head straight to a cardiac surgery center. “With advanced options like the Frozen Elephant Trunk, survivors can get back to thriving,” he says.
Dr. Sajja, a senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Star Hospitals in Hyderabad and chairman of the Sajja Heart Foundation, drives these efforts through his survey and advocacy. His work aims to improve aortic dissection treatment and outcomes for patients everywhere in India.
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