ObjectiveTo explore the optimal preoperative management strategy in patients with acute type A aortic dissection and pericardial tamponade.MethodsA total of 197 patients with acute type A aortic dissection were admitted to the Cardiovascular Center at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2017 to 2019, among whom 26 patients suffered from cardiac tamponade, including 20 males and 6 females with an average age of 59.27±10.76 years. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed.ResultsAll patients underwent surgical repair of the aorta. The median cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamping time were 174.5 min and 121.5 min, respectively. Postoperative complications included kidney failure in 3 patients, respiratory failure in 2 patients and disturbance of consciousness in 3 patients. Postoperative death occurred in 5 (19.2%) patients. The other 21 patients were successfully followed up for 2 years, during which 1 patient died with a survival rate of 95.2%, and no re-intervention was indicated.ConclusionAdequate preoperative management is crucial in patients with acute type A aortic dissection complicated with cardiac tamponade. A cardiac surgery team with round-the-clock availability, an integrated cardiac surgery ward and a rational algorithm that can shorten the time from disease onset to surgery treatment are the keys to improve survival rate.