Aortic Dissection

Aortic dissection is the condition in which there is tearing of the inner layer of the aorta. The surging of blood through tear causes the middle and inner layer to dissect. Aortic dissection is sometimes fatal when blood filled channel ruptures through outside.

Symptoms

Symptoms typically include;

Intense chest pain
Acute and severe pain in abdomen
Problematic breathing
Paralyzed one side of body or sudden loss of speech and vision
Weak pulse in thigh and arm of one side as compared to other
Leg aches
Leg paralysis.

Causes

This condition occur because of weakening of aortic wall. This can be due to hypertension or congenital condition like marfan syndrome, or due to traumatic injury. Depending upon the part of aorta affected there are 2 types of dissection;

Type A: it’s the commonest and dangerous type that occurs when there is tear on the vessel when it leaves the heart in ascending aorta.
Type B: in this tear occurs in the descending aorta.

Complications

Following complications can result;

Fatal severe internal bleeding
Kidney failure or life-threatening cardiac tamponade
Stroke
Severe intestinal bleeding and aortic regurgitation.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves detailed history and complete medical general physical examination to rule out the cause of dissection. Some common imaging tests include;

Trans-esophageal ecocardiogram.
CT scan
Magnetic resonance angiogram.

Treatment

Treatment of aortic dissection depends upon it’s type

Type A dissection treatment options are surgery, medication such as beta blockers and nitropruside or hypertensive drug.
Type B dissection treatment options are medicatios and stenting surgery.

Aortic Dissection