Aortic dissection causes, diagnosis, treatment and case report

There are three layers of the aorta: the intima, media and adventitia. Aortic dissection is defined as a tear in the intima, causing blood to separate the intima and media layers creating a false lumen. The aortic dissection Stanford classification type A involves the ascending aorta or the aortic arch. This type is treated with surgery. Type B involves the descending aorta and is treated with beta blockers to control hypertension. There is a high surgical mortality with type B aortic dissection. A CT scan, MRI or transesophageal echocardiogram are used for diagnosis. Blood pressure may be unequal in both arms and a chest x-ray may show widening of the mediastinum. There are two options for surgery open heart surgery and endovascular surgery. Open heart Surgery is generally indicated for type A aortic dissection or intramural hematoma. Vascular surgery is a possible option for patients with descending aorta involvement. A patient who survived an aortic dissection had symptoms that began with nonspecific lower back pain and then progressed to lower extremity weakness. He said he felt a chest pain that radiated to his back. Physicians in the OR performed an open heart surgery, and he survived.