Describes recent surgical techniques developed to improve prognosis in aortic diseases, and discusses recent interventional strategies such as endovascular stent-graft placement and non-surgical reconstruction of the aorta. Chapters deal with aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, surgical treatment of aortic aneurysms and dissections, inherited disorders of the aorta, aortic trauma, aortitis, and etiology and pathology of aortic malformations. Each chapter is organized in a similar fashion, with information on demographic aspects, pathology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR