Aortic dissection: Difference between revisions

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Arterial dissection occurs when there defect in the arterial tunica intima, leading to blood entering a virtual space between the tunica intima and tunica media. This forms a so-called ''false lumen'' inside this space. Unlike what the image at the top of the page shows, the false lumen may become larger than the true lumen. Blood may flow out of the false lumen through a second intimal tear.
'''Aortic dissection''' refers to the [[arterial dissection]] of the aorta and is, like [[aortic aneurysm]], mostly a disease of older men. It’s a quite deadly condition, with high mortality rate even with treatment. It's one form of [[acute aortic syndrome]].
 
The aorta is the artery most often affected by dissection. '''Aortic dissection''' is, like [[aortic aneurysm]], mostly a disease of older men. It’s a quite deadly condition, with high mortality rate even with treatment.


Aortic dissection is problematic because it may rupture the aorta, or it may cause downstream ischaemia. If the dissection occurs above where a branching artery originates, the branching artery will no longer be supplied by blood from the true lumen but rather from the false lumen. Circulation in the false lumen is worse than in the true lumen or even completely absent, which may cause ischaemia of supplied tissues. Thrombi may also form in the false lumen, which may embolise.
Aortic dissection is problematic because it may rupture the aorta, or it may cause downstream ischaemia. If the dissection occurs above where a branching artery originates, the branching artery will no longer be supplied by blood from the true lumen but rather from the false lumen. Circulation in the false lumen is worse than in the true lumen or even completely absent, which may cause ischaemia of supplied tissues. Thrombi may also form in the false lumen, which may embolise.