The aorta is the main artery that comes directly from the heart. The aorta, which is the source of the entire arterial network in the body, can be defined as the largest and most important main artery. In this context, any negative situation occurring in the aorta can pose serious life risks and cause sudden consequences.
Aortic rupture (dissection) is one of the conditions that may occur in the aorta. Aortic rupture can be defined as a tear in any part of the inner wall of the aortic vessel.
Aortic rupture is a condition that is more common in people between the ages of 60-80 and can cause serious life risks and deaths. Aortic rupture, which is twice as common in men as in women, requires urgent and rapid intervention if it occurs.
What are the Causes of Aortic Rupture?
One of the most important causes of aortic rupture is the age factor. We can list the following as the causes of aortic rupture, which is generally seen in people after the age of 50:
-Increase in intravascular pressure due to high blood pressure
-Arteriosclerosis
-Intravascular Sudden trauma situations
-Connective tissue diseases
-Having undergone surgery that involves the aortic vessels or that affects the aortic vessel in some way.
-Differences in the vascular structure (for example, the number of layers in the vascular structure is two instead of three)
-Genetic factors
For the reasons stated above, the tear in the inner wall of the aorta reaches the middle layer and blood begins to flow between the layers. is starting. As the blood begins to filter between the inner and middle layers of the vein, the inner and outer layers are separated from each other. This condition is called aortic rupture (dissection).
What are the Symptoms of Aortic Rupture?
Aortic rupture is a condition that develops rapidly and causes sudden vital problems. In this regard, we can list the symptoms that occur as a result of aortic rupture as follows:
-Sweating
-Weakness
-Shortness of breath
-Blood pressure change between extremities
-Hypertension and tachycardia
-Hypotension
-Hoarseness
Aortic rupture The most important symptom in this case is chest pain. The pain resulting from aortic rupture is quite severe. Patients experiencing aortic rupture express the pain they experience by expressing that they feel like their organs are ruptured, but the intensity of the pain may vary from person to person. Chest pain resulting from aortic rupture can radiate to the back, neck, jaw, arms and teeth. Chest pain that occurs in aortic rupture does not decrease from the moment it occurs.
In case of aortic rupture, the vessels leading to the brain are affected; Paralysis, fainting or blindness may occur. When aortic rupture occurs in the veins in the foot and causes blockage, a decrease or loss of pulse may occur.
What are the Risk Factors of Aortic Rupture?
-Pregnancy
-Presence of a known aortic aneurysm
-Connective tissue diseases
-Bicuspid aorta (aortic valve anomaly)
-Blunt traumas
-Some syndrome diseases
-Autoimmune diseases
-Aortic coarctation
-Inflammation and medial degenerative diseases of the aorta
Diagnostic Methods in Aortic Rupture
Echocardiography
It is very important for rapid diagnosis. The tear in the middle can be seen with transesophageal echocardiography or transthoracic echocardiography, and aortic valve functions can also be evaluated.
Computed Tomography
Aortic rupture can cause situations called real or pseudo-tear. As a result of computed tomography, precise information can be obtained about whether the aortic rupture is a real tear or a pseudo-tear. It both gives information about the location of the tear and shows how far the tear has progressed in the aorta.
Angiography
It gives information about the anatomical features present in the aorta and indicates aortic insufficiency. It allows to distinguish which type of aortic rupture occurs.
Surgical Treatment for Aortic Rupture
Treatment for aortic rupture is almost entirely surgical. It must be intervened very urgently. Half of these patients die before reaching the hospital. First of all, it is necessary to understand where the tear in the aorta begins and how far it continues, and the surgery is planned accordingly. Dissection may occur at the exit site from the heart, in the chest cavity, or in the aortic sections in the abdominal cavity. Each requires separate surgical procedures.
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