The aortic artery extends from the left ventricle in the heart and branches out to each leg. Aortic dissection is a tear in the inside wall of the aorta, also called an aortic aneurysm. A person with aortic dissection can bleed to death quickly without emergency medical intervention.
Symptoms
Aortic dissection causes severe symptoms. The Mayo Clinic website states that aortic dissection patients report intense tearing pain in the mid-chest accompanied by shortness of breath. Patients may lose consciousness from blood loss.
Identification
Aortic dissection aneurysms are diagnosed by X-ray and computed tomography scan. If an X-ray reveals an enlarged area in the aorta, a computed tomography scan confirms whether the enlargement is due to aortic aneurysm or another cause.
Risk Factors
The Cardiology Channel website reports that two-thirds of aortic dissection patients suffer from high blood pressure. Genetic predisposition plays a role in risk for aortic dissection. Blunt trauma to the chest is a common cause of aortic dissection.
Treatment
There are two types of aortic dissection and each requires different treatment. Type A aortic dissections move up and into the chest. This type requires immediate surgery. Type B descends upward into the abdomen and can be treated with medication.
Prognosis
According to the U.S. National Library of Health, less than 50% of patients treated for ruptured aortic dissection survive. The Merck Manual online states that 75% of patients who do not receive treatment, die within two weeks of aortic dissection.
Tags: aortic dissection, aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, aortic dissection patients, computed tomography