Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam, Consultant of Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, is a specialist in treating aortic dissection. This is one of the most dangerous conditions affecting the aorta and requires rapid diagnosis and precise therapeutic intervention to avoid complications that may threaten the patient’s life.
Treatment includes resection of the damaged part of the aorta and replacing it with a synthetic graft using the latest surgical technologies, relying on advanced medical equipment and a specialized team to ensure the best results and reduce complications.
Aortic dissection is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of a tear in the inner layer of the artery wall, allowing blood to leak between the wall layers. It may lead to artery rupture or lack of blood perfusion to vital organs if intervention is not rapid.
Therefore, in this article, we will learn about the causes of aortic dissection, methods of diagnosis and treatment, in addition to answering the most common questions such as: Is the aortic artery the aorta? And is aortic artery surgery dangerous?
What is Aortic Dissection?
Aortic dissection is a tear that occurs in the inner layer of the aorta, allowing blood to pass between the layers of the artery wall instead of its normal path, leading to the separation of the inner layer from the middle layer. It is considered one of the conditions that require urgent medical intervention.
It is also known as aortic dissection, and its occurrence increases among the elderly, especially patients with high blood pressure or genetic diseases that affect the strength of connective tissues.
What is the Aortic Artery?
The aortic artery or aorta is the largest artery in the human body, exiting from the left ventricle of the heart to distribute oxygen-rich blood to all organs of the body.
The artery consists of several parts, including:
- Ascending aorta.
- Aortic arch.
- Descending aorta.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm may affect the part located inside the abdomen, and it is one of the diseases that need careful follow-up or surgical intervention when the artery diameter increases, to avoid the risk of rupture or internal bleeding.
How Dangerous is Aortic Dissection?
The danger of aortic dissection lies in the fact that blood takes an abnormal path inside the artery wall, which may reduce blood flow to the brain, kidneys, intestines, or limbs.
Also, weakness of the artery wall may lead to aortic rupture symptoms in advanced cases, which is one of the most dangerous complications that require immediate surgical intervention to save the patient’s life.
Read also: Aortic rupture symptoms.
Stages of Aortic Dissection
The classification of aortic dissection depends on the location of the injury and the extent of the tear within the artery, which helps the doctor choose the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient.
What are the Causes of Aortic Dissection?
There are many causes of aortic dissection, the most important of which are:
- Chronic high blood pressure.
- Marfan syndrome and some genetic diseases that affect connective tissues.
- Congenital malformations of the aortic valve.
- Inflammations affecting the artery wall.
- Violent chest injuries and accidents.
The risk of infection may also increase with advancing age or a family history of aortic diseases.
Types of Aortic Dissection
Aortic dissection is divided into two main types according to the location of the injury:
- Type (A): It is the most common and dangerous, as it affects the ascending part of the aorta, and may extend to the aortic arch or descending parts. It often requires urgent surgical intervention.
- Type (B): It affects the descending aorta. Treatment often begins with medications and careful follow-up. The patient may need therapeutic catheterization or stent placement if complications appear.
Aortic dissection is also classified into:
- Acute dissection: if diagnosed within the first two weeks of its occurrence.
- Chronic dissection: if discovered after more than two weeks.
What are the Symptoms of Aortic Dissection?
Aortic dissection symptoms are similar to symptoms of many heart diseases, so you must go to the hospital as soon as they appear, including:
- Sudden and severe pain in the chest or upper back, described by many patients as tearing or stabbing pain.
- Pain extending to the back, abdomen, or legs.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Severe shortness of breath.
- Weakness or loss of pulse in one of the arms or legs.
- Vision disturbances or loss of ability to speak.
- Sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
- Leg pain and difficulty walking due to poor blood perfusion.
Some symptoms of aortic narrowing are similar to these symptoms, especially chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid exhaustion, so the doctor relies on precise tests to differentiate between the two cases and determine the appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis of Aortic Dissection
The doctor relies on medical history and clinical examination, then requests a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the location and extent of the tear, including:
- Chest X-ray.
- Echocardiogram (Echo) or transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).
- Contrast CT scan.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
- Diagnostic catheterization in some cases.
Early diagnosis also helps in discovering other diseases such as aortic blockage or aneurysm, and choosing the appropriate treatment before complications occur.
How to Treat Aortic Dissection?
Treating aortic dissection depends on the type of dissection, its location, and the general condition of the patient.
If the dissection is Type (A), the patient is admitted to the hospital urgently to control blood pressure, then surgery is performed to replace the affected part of the aorta.
If the dissection is Type (B), treatment begins with medications to lower blood pressure and reduce pressure on the artery wall. The doctor may resort to catheterization and placement of aortic stents if complications appear or blood perfusion deficiency continues.
How to Treat Aortic Dissection
The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the condition and may include:
Type (A) Treatment
Requires urgent surgical intervention to replace the affected part of the aorta, and may also include repairing or replacing the aortic valve if it is affected.
Type (B) Treatment
Initially relies on medical treatment, including blood pressure lowering medications and analgesics, while intervention with catheterization or stents is used in case of complications.
Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam explains that some patients suffering from aortic narrowing treatment or aortic diseases may need surgical intervention or catheterization according to the degree of narrowing or aneurysm and the location of the injury. Therefore, the treatment plan is determined after evaluating the condition accurately and performing the necessary tests.
What is the Success Rate of Aortic Artery Surgery?
The success rate of aortic artery surgery has increased in recent years thanks to the great development in heart and vascular surgeries. The success rate may reach more than 95% in cases that are diagnosed early and performed in specialized centers by an experienced medical team.
The success rate in aortic dissection cases varies according to the location of the tear, the speed of intervention, and the patient’s health condition. Therefore, early diagnosis is one of the most important factors that help improve results and reduce complications.
Is the Aortic Artery the Aorta?
Yes, the aortic artery is the aorta itself. They are two names for the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all organs of the body.
Any disease affecting this artery, such as aortic blockage, aneurysm, or dissection, directly affects the delivery of blood to various organs of the body. Therefore, it needs rapid evaluation and treatment when symptoms appear.
Is Aortic Artery Surgery Dangerous?
Many patients ask if aortic artery surgery is dangerous, and the truth is that it is considered one of the precise and complex surgeries, but in many cases, it is the only way to save the patient’s life, especially when suffering from aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm.
The degree of surgery risk depends on several factors, including:
- Location of the injury in the aorta.
- Extent of the tear or aneurysm spread.
- The patient’s age and general health condition.
- Presence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Speed of medical intervention.
- Experience of the heart surgeon and the medical team.
Although the surgery is precise, development in aortic surgeries and minimally invasive surgical techniques has contributed to significantly raising success rates and reducing complications.
Conclusion on Aortic Dissection
Aortic dissection is one of the most dangerous aortic diseases, as it may lead to life-threatening complications if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Therefore, going to the doctor quickly when aortic dissection symptoms or aortic rupture symptoms appear can make a big difference in the chances of survival and treatment success.
The choice of appropriate treatment depends on the type of injury. Some patients may need medical treatment, while advanced cases require intervention with catheterization or surgery to replace the affected part of the artery.
Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam has extensive experience in aortic surgeries, treating aortic dissection, open-heart surgeries, and minimally invasive surgical intervention, using the latest medical technologies to provide the best results and achieve the highest safety rates for patients.
To book and inquire, you can contact Professor Dr. Mohamed El-Ghannam’s clinics through:
Phone number: 01211979117
Email: info@mohamedelghanam.com
You can also visit the doctor’s clinics in:
Heliopolis Clinic.
Nasr City Clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the success rate of aortic artery surgery?
Aortic artery surgeries are operations that achieve high success rates when diagnosed early and performed in a specialized center. The success rate varies according to the type of injury, its development, and the patient’s health condition.
What does a tear in the aortic artery wall mean?
It means a tear occurs in the inner layer of the artery wall, allowing blood to pass between the wall layers instead of its natural path, which may lead to artery wall weakness and rupture if not treated quickly.
What is aortic dissection?
It is a medical emergency in which a tear occurs in the aortic wall. It is considered one of the most dangerous heart and vascular diseases and requires urgent intervention to prevent serious complications.
Is the aorta the aortic artery?
Yes, the aorta is the aortic artery itself. It is the largest artery in the human body and is responsible for carrying blood from the heart to all organs of the body.
