Acute aortic syndrome includes aortic dissection, intramural haematoma (IMH), and symptomatic aortic ulcer. Propagation of the dissection can proceed in anterograde or retrograde fashion from the initial tear involving side branches and causing complications such as malperfusion syndromes, tamponade, or aortic valve insufficiency.⁶ Common predisposing factors in the International Registry of Aortic Dissection (IRAD) were hypertension in 72% of cases, followed by atherosclerosis in 31% and previous cardiac surgery in 18% (table 1). Analysis of the young patients with dissection (<40 years of age) revealed that younger patients were less likely to have a history of hypertension (34%) or atherosclerosis (1%), but were more likely to have Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, and/or prior aortic surgery.⁷

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) remain a leading cause of death and disability. Since the publication of the 2023 ESC ACS guidelines, multiple studies and an ESC/EAS dyslipidaemia update have refined how clinicians diagnose, revascularize, and treat ACS across the care continuum. Content: This state-of-the-art review synthesizes advances from 2023 to 2025 across five domains. Diagnosis: High-sensitivity troponin-based accelerated pathways remain foundational; GRACE 3.0 improves calibration for early vs. delayed angiography, while selective use of CCTA and routine use of intracoronary imaging/physiology help define the mechanism and optimize PCI. Revascularization: complete revascularization continues to underpin care in multivessel disease, with recent data favouring culprit-only PCI acutely and staged non-culprit treatment during the index stay in most STEMI presentations, particularly with heart-failure physiology. Antithrombotic therapy: Aspirin remains critical early after ACS-PCI; emerging evidence supports shorter DAPT and aspirin withdrawal after 1 month in carefully selected, low-ischaemic-risk patients, whereas day-0 aspirin-free strategies in unselected ACS are not non-inferior. Secondary prevention: A “strike early and strong” approach to LDL-cholesterol—often with combination therapy in hospital—is emphasized, alongside nuanced roles for SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Special populations and implementation: Sex- and age-aware tailoring (including MINOCA/SCAD evaluation), pragmatic bleeding-risk mitigation, digitally enabled cardiac rehabilitation, and registry-driven quality improvement translate evidence into practice. Summary: Contemporary ACS care is moving from uniform protocols toward risk-stratified, mechanism-informed pathways. We offer practical algorithms and checklists to align interventional timing, antithrombotic intensity/duration, and secondary prevention with individual patient risk—bridging new evidence to bedside decisions.

Survival after acute aortic dissection has improved, shifting attention to long-term recovery and quality of life, yet little is known about how survivors experience their bodies and everyday sensory environment afterwards. We conducted an exploratory, hypothesis-generating qualitative study within a participatory co-creation project, in which nine survivors of acute Type A aortic dissection recruited through a national patient organisation took part in a workshop using sound as a creative entry point for discussing life after dissection. Through individual reflection, thematic clustering, and facilitated group dialogue, participants described everyday experiences of alertness, heightened bodily awareness, reassurance, and mutual recognition. Written reflections, workshop outputs, and facilitator field notes were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants used sound as a medium to articulate an ongoing attentiveness to bodily and environmental cues and valued recognising these experiences in others. Rather than demonstrating altered auditory perception, which was not assessed, the findings suggest that sound can make otherwise hard-to-express dimensions of survivorship visible and shareable, informing future targeted research and person-centred follow-up.