What is an aortic dissection?

Aortic dissection is a serious disease that affects the heart. This occurs when there is a break in the wall of the main artery that carries blood out of the heart: the aorta. When that happens, the rupture spreads across that wall and blood can run between the layers of the blood vessel wall, hence there is talk of dissection.

The consequences can be seen in the rupture of the aorta artery or in the decrease of blood flow to the organs, better known as ischemia.

Aortic dissection is rare. It occurs in approximately two out of ten thousand people and can affect anyone, although it occurs most frequently in men between the ages of 40 and 70.

Causes of aortic dissection

According to experts, the exact cause of this disease is unknown. What is known are the most common risks: atherosclerosis, aging, high blood pressure or severe trauma in the chest area.

There are also other, less frequent risk factors or conditions associated with aortic dissection. These are: tissue disorders, such as Marfan Syndrome, and other rare genetic disorders; narrowing of the aorta; pregnancy; or vascular inflammation, derived from other conditions such as arteritis and syphilis.

Path and consequences

When it comes out of the heart, the aorta rises first through the chest to the head. Then it bends. Finally, it goes down through the chest and abdomen. Aortic dissection occurs very often due to a break or damage to the interior wall of the artery. This is seen in the thoracic part of the artery, although it can also occur in the abdominal aorta.

After the rupture, two channels are created: one, through which the blood continues to circulate; and others, in which the blood remains still. If the canal with stagnant blood gets bigger, it can put pressure on other aorta ramifications. The consequences can narrow the other ramifications, in addition to reducing blood flow through them. In addition, it is not disposable for an aorta to widen.

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