Aortic dissection

Question 1

What is an aortic dissection?

Answer 1

Break or tear in inner layer of the aorta
Blood goes between intima and media layers of Aorta

Question 2

What are the risk factors of aortic dissection?

Answer 2

Age, male sex, smoking, hypertension, poor diet, reduced physical activity and raised cholesterol.

Question 3

What conditions affect aortic dissection?

Answer 3

Bicuspid aortic valve
Coarctation of the aorta
Aortic valve replacement
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Marfan’s Syndrome

Question 4

How does it present?

Answer 4

The typical presentation is a sudden onset, severe, “ripping” or “tearing” chest pain.
collapse
diastolic murmur
hypertension

Question 5

How do we diagnose?

Answer 5

CT angiogram
MRI angiogram

Question 6

How do we manage it?

Answer 6

Surgical emergency if type A (ascending involvement )
If type B manage with anti hypertensives