Dissecting aneurysm: An aneurysm in which the wall of an artery rips (dissects) longitudinally. This occurs because bleeding into the weakened wall splits the wall. Dissecting aneurysms tend to affect the thoracic aorta. They are a particular danger in Marfan syndrome.
what is the difference between an aneurysm and a dissection?
Aneurysms and Dissections. An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery. An aneurysm that bleeds into the brain can lead to stroke or death. Aortic dissection occurs when the layers of the wall of the aorta separate or are torn, allowing blood to flow between those layers and causing them to separate further.
what is the main cause of aortic dissection?
Chronic high blood pressure may stress the aortic tissue, making it more susceptible to tearing. You can also be born with a condition associated with a weakened and enlarged aorta, such as Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve or other rarer conditions associated with weakening of the walls of the blood vessels.
what is the survival rate of an aortic dissection?
Prognosis. About 20% of patients with aortic dissection die before reaching the hospital. Without treatment, mortality rate is 1 to 3%/hour during the first 24 hours, 30% at 1 week, 80% at 2 week, and 90% at 1 year. Hospital mortality rate for treated patients is about 30% for proximal dissection and 10% for distal.
What is dissecting aortic aneurysm?
Aortic dissection is a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). As the tear extends along the wall of the aorta, blood can flow in between the layers of the blood vessel wall (dissection).
How do they fix an aortic dissection?
Acute aortic dissection can be treated surgically or medically. In surgical treatment, the area of the aorta with the intimal tear is usually resected and replaced with a Dacron graft. Emergency surgical correction is the preferred treatment for Stanford type A (DeBakey type I and II) ascending aortic dissection. You may also read,
Which type of aortic dissection is worse?
Type A Aortic Dissection A type A tear may extend along the upper part of the aorta and down toward the abdomen. Type A is more common than type B. It’s also more dangerous, because it’s more likely to cause the aorta to rupture, leading to a potentially fatal heart condition. Check the answer of
At what size does an aortic aneurysm rupture?
The larger an aneurysm is, the greater the chances are that it will rupture. It is estimated that an abdominal aortic aneurysm that is over 5.5 cm in diameter will rupture within one year in about 3 to 6 out of 100 men.
Is aortic dissection hereditary?
About 20 percent of people with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection have a genetic predisposition to it, meaning it runs in the family. This type is known as familial thoracic aneurysm and dissection. Many people don’t know they have a genetic predisposition to thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Read:
What is a stable aneurysm?
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (Stable) An aneurysm is a bulge or dilatation in the wall of an artery, in this example, the aorta. This happens because there is a weak spot in the artery wall causing that area to start to deteriorate. This allows the artery to bulge or balloon out creating the aneurysm.
What happens with a dissecting aneurysm?
If you have a dissection of the aorta, it means that blood is leaking outside of the arterial lumen, or interior of the blood vessel. The leaking blood causes a split between the inner and middle layers of the wall of the aorta as it progresses. This can happen if the inner layer of your aorta tears.
Who is at risk for aortic dissection?
Who’s At Risk Aortic dissections most often happen in men between the ages of 60 and 80. In fact, men are twice as likely to have an aortic dissection as women. Other things that make an aortic dissection more likely include: Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
Is an aortic dissection a heart attack?
Aortic Dissection: A Rare, Dangerous Condition That Can Mimic a Heart Attack. Aortic dissection is a very rare but life-threatening cardiovascular condition in which the inside lining of the main artery (the aorta) that carries blood away from the heart tears.
Can you live a normal life with an aortic aneurysm?
A normal aorta is about as wide and as tough as a garden hose. If the aneurysm does not grow much, you may live with a small aneurysm for years. The risk of rupture increases with the size of the aneurysm.
How long can you live with a tear in your aorta?
Among those who do reach the hospital, if the condition is not diagnosed and treated within 48 hours, half will die. From 80 to 90 percent survive surgery, which involves cutting out the damaged part of the aorta — several inches’ worth in most cases — and replacing it with a tube made of a synthetic material.
