The ascending aortic aneurysm: When to intervene?

BACKGROUND: Thoracic ascending aorta aneurysms (TAA) are an important cause of mortality in adults but are a relatively less studied subject compared to abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The purpose of this review is to explain the main aspects (etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis) of this disease and to summarize the most recent developments in its management. METHODOLOGY: Literature was obtained through online health related search engines (PubMed, MEDLINE) by including the following keywords: ascending aorta aneurysm, thoracic aneurysms, Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, familial thoracic syndrome, aortic dissection, aorta imaging and aortic aneurysm guidelines. We included articles dating from 1980 to 2014. FINDINGS: Literature revealed how lethal this disease can be and how simple steps such as follow-up and prophylactic surgery can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. This review also allowed us to realize the many developments that have been made in recent years in the understanding of pathologic mechanisms of this disease. CONCLUSION: TAA is a silent disease that needs to be recognized early in its course and followed closely in order to recommend appropriate preventive and prophylactic therapy in a timely manner.