Foreword

Article Outline

• Copyright

The thoracic aorta is not just a tube linking the heart to the rest of the body. It has become of great importance because its abnormalities may have profound deleterious effects including the demise of the patient, and thus, rapid diagnosis and treatment has become very important. All of us who take care of patients with cardiovascular disease and including all physicians who deal with medical emergencies need to be very knowledgeable about it.

John A. Elefteriades is recognized, both in the USA and indeed the world, as one of the leading experts in this field. His unit at Yale and the database he has established at Yale University Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease is a unique institution. The Editorial Board and I are grateful for his outstanding contribution which includes anatomic patterns, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment. It has 132 references.

The Editorial Board and I are also grateful to Thoraf M. Sundt, III, MD^⁎ for his scholarly and excellent comments.

• ⁎ Thoraf M. Sundt, III, MD, FAHA, FACC, FACS is Professor of Surgery, Consultant of the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Vice-Chair of Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic.