Aortic dissection Health Article

Complications

• Aortic rupture causing rapid blood loss, shock
• Bleeding from the aorta
• Blood clots
• Cardiac tamponade
• Heart attack
• Not enough blood flow past the dissection
• Permanent kidney failure
• Stroke

Calling your health care provider

If you have symptoms of aortic dissection or severe chest pain, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the emergency room as quickly as possible.

Prevention

Proper treatment and control of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure may reduce your risk of aortic dissection. Tight control of blood pressure in patients at risk of dissection is very important Drugs such as angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers may reduce the likelihood of dissection.

Take safety precautions to prevent injuries, which can cause dissections.

Many cases of aortic dissection cannot be prevented.