Table 1 Comparison of aortic dissection cases between the two decades

Number of cases

23 (41%)

33 (59%)

56

Gender ratio - M:F

16:7

20:13

36:20

Mean age (range) - M

65.2 (39-93)

56.3 (42-74)

60.2 (39-93)

Mean age (range) - F

68.9 (46-85)

71.2 (49-84)

70.4 (46-85)

Mean age overall

66.3 ± 14.9

62.2 ± 12.2

63.9 ± 13.4

Evidence of hypertension

20 (87%)

32 (97%)

52 (93%)

Mean heart weight - F ^a

447.1 ± 160.4

427.1 ± 135.7

434.5 ± 141.2

Mean heart weight - M ^b

457.2 ± 109.4

550.8 ± 131.6

509.2 ± 129.4

Diagnosis of AD considered

9 (39%)

16 (48%)

25 (45%)

Diagnosis of AD not considered

14 (61%)

17 (52%)

31 (55%)

Surgical Rx attempted*

2 (8.7%)

12 (36.4%)

14 (25%)

Ruptured cases (cases with attempted surgery)

22 (2)

27 (8)

49 (88%)