An aortic dissection is a rare, serious condition in which the inner layer of the aorta (the biggest blood vessel in the body, coming directly from the heart) tears. Blood then surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect).
Aortic dissection is a medical emergency and needs urgent treatment. The treatment for aortic dissection includes an operation to repair the wall of the aorta, as well as medicines to reduce blood pressure. Aortic dissection is often fatal but early diagnosis and treatment of aortic dissection can greatly improve survival.
What is the aorta?
The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It is an artery and carries blood from the heart and descends through the chest and the tummy (abdomen). Many arteries come off the aorta to supply blood to all parts of the body. At about the level of the hips, the aorta divides into two arteries, one going to each leg.
By Edorado (Own work based on: Arterial System en.svg, Coronary arteries.svg) via Wikimedia Commons
What is aortic dissection?
An aortic dissection occurs in a weakened area of the wall of the aorta. An aortic dissection is a serious condition in which the inner layer of the aorta tears. Blood then surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect).
Image: patient information from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection
Aortic dissections are divided into two groups, depending on which part of the aorta is affected:
- Type A. This involves a tear in the part of the aorta where it exits the heart or a tear in the upper aorta (ascending aorta). The tear may extend into the descending aorta and may extend into the tummy (abdomen).
- Type B. This involves a tear in the lower aorta only (descending aorta). The tear may also extend into the abdomen but any tear that involves the ascending aorta is called a type A aortic dissection.
How common is aortic dissection?
Aortic dissection is relatively uncommon. The condition most frequently occurs in people in their 50s and 60s and is rare in people under 40 years of age. Aortic dissection is more common in men but is still very rare: only about 30 people per million will have one, in a year.
What causes aortic dissection?
Certain conditions make a tear in the wall of the aorta more likely. High blood pressure over a long period of time may weaken the wall of the aorta, making it more likely to tear. People who already have an enlarged aorta (aortic aneurysm) are also at increased risk of aortic dissection.
Some people are born with a condition that causes a weakened wall of the aorta. These conditions are uncommon and include Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. There is an increased risk of aortic dissection with regular cocaine or amfetamine use and with any extremely strenuous exercise such as weightlifting. A severe injury to the chest may also cause aortic dissection. Aortic stenosis, previous cardiac surgery, having a history of aortic diseases in your family and smoking can also increase the risk.
What symptoms does aortic dissection cause?
Aortic dissection may cause severe chest pain and shortness of breath. The symptoms may be very similar to those of a heart attack. The chest pain starts suddenly and is often described as a tearing, ripping or shearing feeling. The pain often spreads to the neck or down the back.
Aortic dissection may also cause loss of consciousness or symptoms similar to a stroke. These may be, for example, loss of vision, or weakness of your legs, or weakness of one side of your body.
How is aortic dissection diagnosed?
Initial investigations to diagnose aortic dissection and rule out a heart attack may include:
- Blood tests.
- A heart tracing (electrocardiogram, or ECG).
- A chest X-ray.
- An ultrasound scan of your heart (echocardiogram, or echo).
- A computerised tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
What is the treatment for aortic dissection?
An aortic dissection is an emergency and needs immediate treatment. Immediate treatment often involves surgery to repair the damaged aorta.
However, medicines such as beta-blockers and nitroprusside may be used before surgery to reduce your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Using these medicines can help to prevent the aortic dissection from becoming worse and so make surgery more likely to be successful. Surgery for type A aortic dissection may also include replacing the aortic valve of the heart at the same time if this is affected.
After the initial treatment, you may need to take medicine to lower your blood pressure. It is likely that you will remain on this medicine to control your blood pressure for the rest of your life. You may also need regular checks with a specialist doctor, including CT or MRI scans, to monitor the aorta in case any further problems occur.
What are the complications of aortic dissection?
An aortic dissection may cause death due to severe internal bleeding. Death may also occur as a result of damage to an organ (for example, acute kidney injury), or as a result of a stroke or damage to the aortic valve of your heart. Blood may also rupture into the lining around your heart (pericardium) to cause severe pressure on your heart (this is called cardiac tamponade).
What is the outlook (prognosis)?
Aortic dissection is often fatal if the blood-filled channel within the wall of the aorta ruptures through to the outside aortic wall (this is called aortic rupture). However, early diagnosis and treatment of aortic dissection can greatly improve survival.
Can aortic dissection be prevented?
The most effective ways to prevent aortic dissection are to take regular medicine to control blood pressure if you are found to have high blood pressure. You can also reduce your risk by reducing the risk of damage to your heart and arteries. This can be achieved by eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise, keeping to an ideal body weight and avoiding smoking.
Further reading and references
Abdominal aortic aneurysm: diagnosis and management; NICE Guidance (March 2020)
Abraha I, Romagnoli C, Montedori A, et al; Thoracic stent graft versus surgery for thoracic aneurysm. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jun 6(6):CD006796. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006796.pub4.
Gudbjartsson T, Ahlsson A, Geirsson A, et al; Acute type A aortic dissection - a review. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2020 Feb54(1):1-13. doi: 10.1080/14017431.2019.1660401. Epub 2019 Sep 23.
Fukui T; Management of acute aortic dissection and thoracic aortic rupture. J Intensive Care. 2018 Mar 16:15. doi: 10.1186/s40560-018-0287-7. eCollection 2018.
Schepens MAAM; Type B aortic dissection: new perspectives. J Vis Surg. 2018 Apr 234:75. doi: 10.21037/jovs.2018.03.16. eCollection 2018.