Aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm are major life-threatening diseases worldwide.^1,2 Epidemiology studies show that mortality from aortic aneurysm and dissection has risen over the past decades in many developed countries including the United States, Britain, and Japan, with the rate of increase ranging from 1.2 to 24.8 fold.^3-6 In fact, aortic aneurysm has become the 13th leading cause of death, claiming an estimated 15 000 deaths annually in the United States.⁷ Aortic dissection is defined as separation of the layers within the aortic wall, while aortic aneurysm is defined as a localized or diffuse dilation of the aorta.^8,9 Both aortic aneurysm and dissection are caused by weakness of the aortic wall due to congenital defect, hypertension, or chronic inflammation.^8-11 Ruptured aortic aneurysm and dissection are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.^10,12,13 Many patients even experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest before the diagnosis of aortic aneurysm or dissection is made.