Actor Alan Thicke, age 69, collapsed while playing hockey with his son at an ice rink. He died hours later at a California hospital. Thicke’s death was caused by aortic dissection. Aortic dissection also killed actor John Ritter at age 54. Aortic dissection is often undetected and undiagnosed by skilled practitioners, resulting in death. Vascular Surgeon Dr. Vito Mantese at Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital St. Louis explains an effort to educate the public and practitioners. He’s also performing a new procedure that he believes is saving lives. It’s a new application of stent grafts for people who suffer from chronic aortic dissection.