Essay On Aortic Dissection
Aortic Dissection
An aortic dissection is a tear in your aorta. The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood out of your heart to supply the rest of your body. It comes out of your heart and curves around, then goes down through your chest (thoracic aorta) and into your belly (abdominal aorta). The wall of the aorta has inner and outer layers.
Aortic dissection occurs most often in the thoracic aorta. This is more likely to happen if the inner layer of the aorta has a weak spot or gets injured. As the dissection widens and blood flows through it, the aorta becomes “double-barreled.” This means one part of the aorta continues to carry blood. However, the inner wall begins to separate from the rest of the aorta as blood flows through the tear. The torn part of the aorta fills with blood. It swells up like a balloon. This can reduce blood flow through the part of the aorta that is still working. …show more content…
Aortic dissection is a medical emergency.
CAUSES
Aortic dissection happens when there is a tear in the inner wall of the aorta. An injury or weakness can cause this tear. Sometimes the exact cause of the tear is not known.
RISK FACTORS
You may be at greater risk for aortic dissection if you:
Have certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure or atherosclerosis.
Have a blunt injury to the chest.
Have a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Are born with a problem that affects either the aorta or the heart valve.
Have a condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels, such as giant cell arteritis.
Are male.
Are aged older than 60 years.
Use cocaine.
Smoke.
Lift very heavy weights or do other types of high-intensity resistance training.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of aortic dissection may come on suddenly. Changes in position may make symptoms worse. The most common symptoms are:
Severe chest pain that may feel like a tearing, stabbing, or sharp pain.
Pain that shifts to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, abdomen, or hips.
Other symptoms may include:
Severe abdominal pain.
Trouble breathing.
Dizziness or fainting.
Nausea or vomiting.
Trouble swallowing.
Sweating a lot.
Feeling confused, dazed, anxious, or fearful.
DIAGNOSIS
Your health care provider may suspect aortic dissection based on your signs and symptoms and will perform a physical exam. During the physical exam, your health care provider may listen for abnormal blood flow sounds (murmurs) in your chest or belly. You may also have your blood pressure checked to see whether it is low or whether the measurements are different between your arms and legs. You may also have tests such as:
Electrocardiogram. This is a test to measure the electrical activity in your heart.
Chest X-ray.
CT scan or MRI.
Aortic angiography. This test uses the injection of a dye to make it easier to see your blood vessels clearly.
Echocardiogram to study your heart using sound waves.
TREATMENT
It is important to treat an aortic dissection as quickly as possible. Your treatment may start as soon as your health care provider suspects aortic dissection. Treatment will depend on how severe your dissection is, where it is located, and your overall health. Treatment options include:
Medicines to lower your blood pressure.
Surgery to remove the dissected part of your aorta and replace it with a graft.
Medical procedures to thread long, thin tubes (catheters) into the aorta (endovascular procedures). This may be done to place a graft or balloon in the blood vessel to improve blood flow or prevent further dissection.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Work with your health care provider to keep your blood pressure under control.
Avoid activities that could cause an injury to your chest or abdomen.
Do not smoke.
Do not participate in sports or exercises that involve weight lifting.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
You develop any new symptoms of aortic dissection after treatment.
SEEM IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
You have severe chest or abdominal pain.
You have trouble breathing.
An aortic dissection is a tear in your aorta. The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood out of your heart to supply the rest of your body. It comes out of your heart and curves around, then goes down through your chest (thoracic aorta) and into your belly (abdominal aorta). The wall of the aorta has inner and outer layers.
Aortic dissection occurs most often in the thoracic aorta. This is more likely to happen if the inner layer of the aorta has a weak spot or gets injured. As the dissection widens and blood flows through it, the aorta becomes “double-barreled.” This means one part of the aorta continues to carry blood. However, the inner wall begins to separate from the rest of the aorta as blood flows through the tear. The torn part of the aorta fills with blood. It swells up like a balloon. This can reduce blood flow through the part of the aorta that is still working. …show more content…
Aortic dissection is a medical emergency.
CAUSES
Aortic dissection happens when there is a tear in the inner wall of the aorta. An injury or weakness can cause this tear. Sometimes the exact cause of the tear is not known.
RISK FACTORS
You may be at greater risk for aortic dissection if you:
Have certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure or atherosclerosis.
Have a blunt injury to the chest.
Have a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Are born with a problem that affects either the aorta or the heart valve.
Have a condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels, such as giant cell arteritis.
Are male.
Are aged older than 60 years.
Use cocaine.
Smoke.
Lift very heavy weights or do other types of high-intensity resistance training.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of aortic dissection may come on suddenly. Changes in position may make symptoms worse. The most common symptoms are:
Severe chest pain that may feel like a tearing, stabbing, or sharp pain.
Pain that shifts to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, abdomen, or hips.
Other symptoms may include:
Severe abdominal pain.
Trouble breathing.
Dizziness or fainting.
Nausea or vomiting.
Trouble swallowing.
Sweating a lot.
Feeling confused, dazed, anxious, or fearful.
DIAGNOSIS
Your health care provider may suspect aortic dissection based on your signs and symptoms and will perform a physical exam. During the physical exam, your health care provider may listen for abnormal blood flow sounds (murmurs) in your chest or belly. You may also have your blood pressure checked to see whether it is low or whether the measurements are different between your arms and legs. You may also have tests such as:
Electrocardiogram. This is a test to measure the electrical activity in your heart.
Chest X-ray.
CT scan or MRI.
Aortic angiography. This test uses the injection of a dye to make it easier to see your blood vessels clearly.
Echocardiogram to study your heart using sound waves.
TREATMENT
It is important to treat an aortic dissection as quickly as possible. Your treatment may start as soon as your health care provider suspects aortic dissection. Treatment will depend on how severe your dissection is, where it is located, and your overall health. Treatment options include:
Medicines to lower your blood pressure.
Surgery to remove the dissected part of your aorta and replace it with a graft.
Medical procedures to thread long, thin tubes (catheters) into the aorta (endovascular procedures). This may be done to place a graft or balloon in the blood vessel to improve blood flow or prevent further dissection.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Work with your health care provider to keep your blood pressure under control.
Avoid activities that could cause an injury to your chest or abdomen.
Do not smoke.
Do not participate in sports or exercises that involve weight lifting.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
You develop any new symptoms of aortic dissection after treatment.
SEEM IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
You have severe chest or abdominal pain.
You have trouble breathing.