Aortic dissection

[DaoMa]

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Aortic dissection​

Overview​

An aortic dissection is a medical emergency in which a tear happens in the inner layer of the body's main artery. That artery is called the aorta. Blood rushes through the tear. This causes the inner and middle layers of the artery to split, called a dissection. If the blood goes outside the artery, aortic dissection is often deadly.

Aortic dissection isn't very common. It usually happens in men in their 60s and 70s. Symptoms of aortic dissection may seem like those of other health conditions. This often leads to delays in diagnosis. Early diagnosis and fast treatment of aortic dissection greatly improve the chance of survival.

Aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm​

A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs when a weak spot in the wall of the aorta begins to bulge, as shown on the left image. Having an aneurysm increases the risk of rupture or a tear in the aorta's lining (dissection), as shown in the image on the right.

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Symptoms​

An aortic dissection may feel like a heart attack or another heart condition. Symptoms of aortic dissection may include:

• Sudden severe chest or upper back pain that spreads to the neck or back. The pain may feel like something is tearing or ripping.
• Sudden severe stomach pain.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Symptoms like those of a stroke, including sudden vision problems, trouble speaking, and weakness or loss of movement on one side of the body.
• Leg pain and trouble walking.

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When to see a doctor​

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have:

• Severe chest or stomach pain.
• Sudden shortness of breath.
• Symptoms of stroke, such as sudden trouble seeing, speaking or moving.

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Causes​

An aortic dissection is caused by a weakened area in the aorta's wall.

Aortic dissections are divided into two groups, depending on which part of the aorta is affected:

• Type A. This more common and dangerous type involves a tear in the part of the aorta where it exits the heart. The tear also can happen in the upper aorta, called the ascending aorta. The tear may spread into the stomach area.
• Type B. This type involves a tear only in the lower aorta, called the descending aorta. It also may spread into the stomach area.

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Risk factors​

Things that raise the risk of aortic dissection include:

• High blood pressure, also called hypertension.
• A buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This is a condition called atherosclerosis.
• A bulge in the wall of the body's main artery, called an aortic aneurysm.
• An aortic valve with two flaps rather than the usual three, called a bicuspid aortic valve.
• Narrowing of the aorta at birth, called aortic coarctation.

Certain genetic diseases also raise the risk of an aortic dissection, including:

• Turner syndrome. High blood pressure, heart conditions and other health conditions may result from this syndrome.
• Marfan syndrome. This condition weakens connective tissue, which supports various structures in the body. People with this disorder often have a family history of aortic aneurysms or aortic dissections.
• Other connective tissue disorders. These include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of connective tissue disorders that involve loose joints and fragile blood vessels. These also include Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which causes twisted arteries, especially in the neck.
• Inflammation of the arteries. Also called giant cell arteritis, this condition also may raise the risk of aortic dissection.

Other possible risk factors for aortic dissection include:

• Sex assigned at birth. Men are more likely to have aortic dissection than women.
• Age. Aortic dissection is more likely in people age 60 and older.
• Cocaine use. This illegal drug raises blood pressure for a limited time.
• Pregnancy. Aortic dissections can happen in otherwise healthy people during pregnancy, but this doesn't occur often.
• Intense weightlifting. Strenuous resistance training raises blood pressure during the activity. This may raise the risk of aortic dissection.

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Complications​

Possible complications of aortic dissection include:

• Death due to severe internal bleeding.
• Organ damage, such as kidney failure or life-threatening damage to the intestines.
• Stroke.
• Backward flow of blood through the aortic valve, called aortic regurgitation.
• Poor blood flow caused by a buildup of fluid in the sac that surrounds the heart. This condition is called cardiac tamponade.

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Prevention​

You can lower your risk of an aortic dissection by preventing chest injury and taking steps to keep your heart healthy.

• Manage blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. If you have high blood pressure, get a blood pressure measuring device to help you check your numbers at home. If you have high blood sugar or high cholesterol, work with your healthcare professional to bring your levels down.
• Do not smoke. If you smoke, quit. Ask your healthcare team for help.
• Eat a healthy diet. Cut back on sodium and table salt. Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Stay active. Each week, aim to get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, or a mix of both.
• Manage weight. Eat healthy and exercise regularly to manage your weight. Ask your healthcare team what a healthy weight is for you.
• Get enough sleep. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.
• Wear a seat belt. This lowers the risk of chest injury during a car accident.

Tell your healthcare team if you have a family history of aortic dissection, a connective tissue disorder or a bicuspid aortic valve. If you have a genetic condition that raises your risk of aortic dissection, your care team may recommend medicines, even if your blood pressure is healthy.

If you have an aortic aneurysm, find out how often you need checkups and if surgery is needed to repair it.

 

[DaoMa]

What is - Aortic Dissection​

Aortic dissection occurs when an injury to the innermost layer of the aorta allows blood to flow between the layers of aortic wall, forcing the layers apart. With aortic dissection, there is reduced or absent blood supply to the various vital organs at times.

(above) Aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta

What is an aorta?​

The aorta is the biggest artery in our body. It originates from the heart, makes a U-turn in the upper chest and ends around the umbilical area, with branches of artery supplying the whole body with oxygenated blood. Therefore, conditions that affect the aorta may affect the blood supply to certain organs, depending on which part of the aorta is involved.

The wall of the aorta comprises an inner, middle and outer layer. It is typically thick and elastic enough to withstand the pressure of oxygenated blood flowing from the heart to the different parts of the body.

Disease in the aorta can cause narrowing or, more commonly, abnormal dilatation of the artery. However, the most dreaded disease which affects the aorta is aortic dissection, a rare but is potentially life threatening condition.

Aortic dissection is caused by disruption of the aorta wall, which allows blood to flow between the layers of the blood vessel wall. The origins of major branches from the aorta at the site of the dissection may be affected, thus compromising blood flow to the respective major organs. Death, heart attack or stroke may ensue if arteries to the heart or brain are affected.

Aortic dissection is usually associated with high blood pressure or conditions that weaken the wall of the blood vessel, such as Marfan’s syndrome. Rarely, it can also happen during pregnancy in normal women.

Symptoms of Aortic Dissection​

The symptoms of acute aortic dissection are usually dramatic with sudden, severe ripping chest or back pain. The pain may travel if there is extension of the dissection.

Related symptoms may occur as a consequence of reduced blood flow to various parts of the body, or due to the pressure exerted on vital organs by an enlarging blood clot, such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Fainting or dizziness
• Excessive sweating, pale and clammy skin
• Rapid or weak pulse
• Difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of the body and blurred vision (similar to stroke symptoms

Other symptoms, depending on whether the origins of major arteries are involved, include heart attack, stroke, heart failure or shock.

Aortic dissection is a dreaded diagnosis. One should ensure adequate control of high blood pressure and seek help early when symptoms arise.

Aortic Dissection - Causes and Risk Factors​

Causes​

Aortic dissection is due to the splitting of the layers of the wall (dissection) of the aorta, the main artery in the body and is usually related to very high blood pressure. The pain is usually described as a tearing pain in the chest, radiating to the back. The dissection may extend into the origin of the aorta and block off one or more of the coronary arteries, leading to a heart attack. Aortic dissection is a medical emergency.

Risk Factors​

Aortic dissection has the following risk factors:

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the major risk factor for aortic dissection. If the force of the blood pressing against the aortic wall is too high, it can lead to tearing of the wall.
• Certain congenital diseases, such as Marfan’s syndrome, can cause connective tissues in the aortic wall to stretch and weaken, making them susceptible to tearing and rupture.
• Bicuspid aortic valve, where the aortic valve has two leaflets instead of the usual three, is another congenital disease that can increase the risk of aortic dissection.
• People with aortic aneurysm (bulging aorta) and atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) also have a higher risk of suffering from aortic dissection.
  

Diagnosis of Aortic Dissection​

Patients with severe chest or back pain, especially those suffering from high blood pressure, may be suspected of having aortic dissection.

Chest X-ray showing widening of the tissue in the middle of the chest is suggestive of aortic dissection. However, a Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or ultrasound (or echocardiogram) is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment for Aortic Dissection​

The most important treatment of aortic dissection is to reduce the blood pressure to prevent further extension of the dissection. The location of the tear in the aortic wall (or type of aortic dissection) and risk of aortic rupture will determine whether doctors will treat aortic dissection with surgery or medications.

Surgery​

Emergency surgery is required when the tear occurs in the ascending aorta or the portion of the aorta closest to the heart (type A aortic dissection), as arteries to the heart and brain are usually involved. Surgery is required only if there is persistent pain or worsening dissection.

The risk of death increases by one per cent for each hour that passes after the aorta has torn and has not been treated. Within 48 hours, 50 per cent of the patients will die. The goal of surgery is to prevent death from exsanguination from the rupture of the aorta, stroke, heart attack and severely leaking heart valve.

In open heart surgery, surgeons will replace the damaged portion of the aorta with a synthetic tube graft. The adjacent structures of the heart may also need to be treated if the condition affected the:

• Aortic valve and
• Coronary arteries

The former can be preserved by repair or replaced with prosthetic valves, whilst the latter can be preserved by reimplanting them onto the graft or through additional coronary bypass surgery.

Endovascular stent grafting, a minimally invasive surgery, may be recommended for suitable patients.

Medications​

Usually, oral or intravenous medications will be recommended instead of surgery, in case of tears involving the descending aorta (type B aortic dissection). The goal is to aggressively reduce and control high blood pressure.

Dissection of other parts of the aorta are usually stabilised medically first. Medications for aortic dissection may be through oral medications, or intravenous medications, if the initial blood pressure is high or not controlled with oral medications.

Even after surgery, aortic dissection patients will need to continue taking oral medications to control their heart rate and reduce their high blood pressure.

 

[DaoMa]

 

[DaoMa]

 

[DaoMa]

Medical examiner cites "aortic dissection" in preliminary findings, Graham spokesperson says​

By Nicky Robertson

Sen. Lindsey Graham died following complications from cardiovascular disease, according to a statement from his communications director, citing preliminary findings from the Washington, DC, medical examiner’s office.

Graham had an “Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,” the statement from Taylor Reidy said.

“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the statement said.

 

[DaoMa]

 

[DaoMa]

 

[404]

If the Ah Ma hand or leg slipped, big stick leow

 

[DaoMa]

 

[Willamshakespear]

The insignificant nobody me offers my sincere condolences to the Great Mr Lindsey Graham's family and loved ones. He is a great person whom knew the irony of peace and that such has to be defended and throughout his lifetime had sought to bring peace not just to Americans, but to ALL Humankind.....He is in a far far better place than here now, free from mortal pain and sufferings.....


Aortic Dissection is not uncommon, but what is uncommon is how fast and rapidly it developed over just mere hours, and thus lends SUSPICION ....was an outside drug introduced into his body to cause such an INSTANT effect, such as a lancet pen which is palm sized and commonly used to draw blood, but at the same time, capable of injecting harmful substances into the blood stream, more so as his death happened just hours after he returned from RUS invaded UKR?

The Palestinian leader Arafat sought to end terrorism and desired to make peace with Israel that the TWISTED ISLAMIC republic of Iran, for its twisted Islamic supremacy agenda, was hell bent against, and Arafat's sudden death was determined something similar to Mr Graham's death - a heart issue - Stroke, but Swiss forensic investigation later found high levels of radioactive polonium-210 on his exhumed remains and belongings, fueling suspicions of poisoning..........

 

[Willamshakespear]

Poisoning is an age old form of Assassination, as it often leaves no traces back in the old days, BUT NOT NOW, with our Advances in Scientific methods. Thus such efforts are futile, as traces can be found which WILL lead eventually to the culprits, whom WILL be brought to justice.,.,,

RUS under Putin is perhaps the ones whom developed such form of Assassination and Terrorism upon its dissidents in recent times, such as the recent case of leaving harmful nerve agents on door knobs - 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, England...

Such methods DID NOT go unnoticed by others......

May Humankind not live in fear. Planet Earth's very basic and simple one rule is 'do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you'. There is NO need to live in fear to any mortal. All it needs is just discussions, and find solutions to resolve problems, so as to progress and evolve.

Equally, moronic terrorists whom thinks that they are the only ones whom can spread fear and terror upon Humankind, DO THINK TWICE.....

.....What you can do, so too can 7 Billion + Humankind do the same to you, with just a nano sized needle or spring loaded finger ring needle LACED with poison, with just a mere friendly handshake, an accepted fist bump of polite greetings developed after the COVid era, or a pat on the back, WILL see you dead in a matter of hours.... There are MORE OF US that seeks for proven values that ELEVATES Humankind such as peace, love, justice, equality, fair prosperity, progress and evolution and MORE than you......



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