The cardiovascular diseases

THE AORTIC DISSECTION

- Definition
- A few explanations
- The Symptoms
- How to make the diagnosis?
- The Causes
- Prognosis
- Treatment
- Conclusion

A FEW EXPLANATIONS

The aorta includes several segments: a segment localized in the chest, or the thorax (the thoracic aorta) and a segment localized at the level of the abdomen (abdominal aorta).

Very often, the aortic dissection is localized at the level of the thoracic aorta.

The cleavage of the aorta creates a double cylinder. The external cylinder, filled by a haematoma or blood whose speed is generally low, is also called “false channel*”. Most often, the entry opening of the blood has its root at the level of the ascending aorta, i.e. the level of the initial part of the aorta. (N.d.T. :* Developing a non anatomical and physiological arterial communication).  

Sometimes, one or several breaches of re-entry exist(s) at the level of the abdominal aorta. The different branches of the aorta can be concerned by the dissection (carotid arteries, subclavian arteries...).

The insufficiency of the aortic valve is the usual consequence of the affection of the ascending aorta but sometimes of the retrograde extension of a dissection of the descending aorta. Its presence is typical of the seriousness of a dissection of the ascending aorta.

An aortic dissection is often the consequence of several factors:

- Hypertension is present in 90% of the cases,

- The aortic atheroma is very often present. This atheroma is essentially due to a high rate of cholesterol or a tobacco intoxication...

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File last modified on june 15, 2006