Aortic aneurysms. Aortic dissection

1. Big picture

Aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection are aortic wall diseases. They are dangerous because they may remain silent until they cause rupture, dissection, tamponade, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute aortic regurgitation, mesenteric ischemia, renal ischemia, limb ischemia, or sudden death.

Think of the topic in two clinical patterns:

Aortic aneurysm = chronic dilation of a weakened aortic wall
Aortic dissection = acute tear in the aortic wall with blood splitting the media

The key exam distinction:

| Disease | Main danger | Key investigation | Key treatment logic | | --------