as societies have aged and aortic diseases have become more prevalent, advances in diagnostic imaging and surgical techniques have brought significantly improved results for patients. in cardiovascular surgery, important questions remain to be addressed, however. strategy for cardio-aortic and aortic surgery was the theme of the 7th keio university international symposium for life sciences and medicine. meeting in tokyo, researchers and specialists in cardiac surgery from around the world discussed crucial issues in their field. papers from the symposium, collected in this volume, cover a broad range of topics, including recent advances in diagnostic imaging, brain protection during aortic surgery, spinal protection during thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair, treatment of type a acute aortic dissection, and stent-grafts and less-invasive aortic surgery. this unique book provides valuable information especially for aortic, cardiovascular, and thoracic surgeons.