aortic dissection

Also known as AD

injury to the innermost layer of the aorta

Key facts

Specialty: Vascular surgery , cardiothoracic surgery , emergency medicine , interventional radiology
Symptoms: severe chest or back pain , vomiting, sweating , lightheadedness
Complications: Stroke , mesenteric ischemia , myocardial ischemia , aortic rupture
Usual onset: Sudden
Risk factors: High blood pressure , Marfan syndrome , Loeys-Dietz syndrome , Turner syndrome , bicuspid aortic valve , previous heart surgery , major trauma , smoking
Diagnostic method: Medical imaging
Prevention: Blood pressure control, not smoking
Treatment: Depends on the type
Prognosis: Mortality without treatment 10% (type B), 50% (type A)
Frequency: 3 per 100,000 per year

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

Article

Aortic dissection explanation video

Aortic dissection (AD) occurs when an injury to the innermost layer of the aorta allows blood to flow between the layers of the aortic wall, forcing the layers apart. In most cases, this is associated with a sudden onset of agonizing chest or back pain, often described as "tearing" in character. Vomiting, sweating, and lightheadedness may also occur. Damage to other organs may result from the decreased blood supply, such as stroke, lower extremity ischemia, or mesenteric ischemia. Aortic dissection can quickly lead to death from insufficient blood flow to the heart or complete rupture of the aorta.