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For a great "overview"
and "pictures" read this now!
Click Here!
and
Click Here!
Here's another
great
article! Those three sites should set you on your way very
quickly to learning about what an Aortic Dissection really is and what
causes them. Here's a
great site with some pretty explicit pictures of an aortic
dissection. Here's some
great pictures of the what the Dissections look like.
More here! Here's some of our
experts.
There
is also some different examples (pictures) on Google.
Click here! I like this
one as well! What's the future of Aortic Repairs? Here's one
technique.
Finally, one of my favorites for good all around information about the
aorta.
Definition
Aortic dissection is a rare, but potentially fatal, condition in
which blood passes through the inner lining and between the layers of
the
aorta. The
dissecting aorta usually does not burst, but has an abnormal
second channel within it.
Description
A defect in the inner lining of the aorta allows an opening or tear
to develop. The aorta is the main artery of the body and is an area of
high blood pressure. When a defect develops, blood pressure can force
the tear to open and allow blood to pass through. Since the blood is
under pressure, it eventually splits (dissecting) the middle layer of
the blood vessel, creating a new channel for blood. The length of the
channel grows over time and can result in the closing off of
connection points to other
arteries. This can lead to
heart attack, strokes,
abdominal
pain, and nerve damage. Blood may
leak from the
dissection and collect in the chest an around the heart.
A second mechanism leading to aortic dissection is medial
hemorrhage. A medial hemorrhage occurs in the middle layer of the
blood vessel and spills through the inner lining of the aorta wall.
This opening then allows blood from the aorta to enter the vessel wall
and begin a dissection. Approximately 2,000 cases of aortic dissection
occur yearly in the United States.
Causes and symptoms
Aortic dissection is caused by a
deterioration of the inner lining of the aorta. There are a number
of conditions that
predispose a person to develop defects of the inner lining,
including high blood pressure,
Marfan's
Syndrome,
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, connective tissue diseases, and defects of
heart development which begin during
fetal development. A dissection can also occur accidentally
following insertion of a
catheter, trauma, or surgery. The main symptom is sudden, intense
pain. The pain can be so intense as to
immobilize the patient and cause him to fall to the ground. The
pain is frequently felt in both the chest and in the back, between the
shoulder blades. The extent of the pain is proportional to the length
of the dissection.
Diagnosis
The pain experienced by the patient is the first symptom of aortic
dissection and is unique. The pain is usually described by the patient
as "tearing, ripping, or stabbing." This is in contrast to the pain
associated with heart attacks. The patient frequently has a reduced or
absent pulse in the extremities. A murmur may be heard if the
dissection is close to the heart. An enlarged aorta will usually
appear in the chest x rays and ultrasound exams of most patients. The
use of a blood dye in angiograms and/or CT scans (computed
tomography scans) will aid in diagnosing and visualizing the
dissection.
Treatment
Because of the potentially fatal nature of aortic dissection,
patients are treated immediately. Drugs are administered to reduce the
blood pressure and heart rate. If the dissection is small, drug
therapy alone may be used. In other cases, surgery is performed. In
surgery, damaged sections of the aorta are removed and a synthetic
graft is often used to reconstruct the damaged vessel.
Prognosis
Depending on the nature and extent of the dissection,
death can occur within a few hours of the start of a dissection.
Approximately 75% of
untreated people die within two weeks of the start of a
dissection. Of those who are treated, 40% survive more than 10 years.
Patients are usually given long term treatment with drugs to reduce
their blood pressure, even if they have had surgery.
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Tyler Kahle.
