Trusted Care for Aortic Dissection 

An aortic dissection is a tear in a weak section of your aorta, the main artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Blood can rush through the tear, causing layers of the aortic wall to separate (dissect). This separation may cut off blood flow to vital organs and lead to serious complications. 

Aortic dissection happens suddenly and requires immediate medical attention. Cardiovascular specialists at Keck Medicine of USC respond with rapid, lifesaving care. Our team is trained in the latest surgical techniques to stabilize and treat aortic dissections. 

Groom Experiences Aortic Dissection at Wedding

Seeking Emergency Care for Aortic Dissection Symptoms 

Aortic dissection is rare. It most often occurs due to long-term high blood pressure or an aortic aneurysm. When symptoms appear, they are sudden and severe. You may feel like you’re having a heart attack. Seek emergency care right away if you experience: 

• Dizziness or fainting 
• Loss of consciousness 
• Pain that spreads to the neck, jaw, abdomen or legs 
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat 
• Shortness of breath 
• Stroke-like signs, including vision problems or loss of movement 
• Sudden, severe chest or upper back pain that may feel like tearing or ripping 

How We Diagnose Aortic Dissection 

Because aortic dissection can resemble other heart conditions, diagnosis can be difficult. We may notice that pulse strength and blood pressure may differ between your arms. Our team will quickly perform tests to confirm the diagnosis. These include: 

• Chest computerized tomography (CT) scan 
• Chest X-ray 
• Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA), a test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create blood vessel images 
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), a test that provides clearer pictures of your heart in motion than a traditional echocardiogram 

How We Treat Aortic Dissection 

Treatment depends on where the tear occurs along the aorta. We classify aortic dissections into two types based on their location. 

Type A Aortic Dissection 

Type A aortic dissection is more serious. It starts in the upper part of the aorta, closer to your heart. This type requires emergency open-heart surgery. A surgeon will remove the damaged section of your aorta and replace it with a synthetic fabric tube (graft). They may also need to repair other areas, such as a leaking aortic valve.  

Type B Aortic Dissection  

Type B aortic dissection begins farther down your aorta, away from your heart. Your care team may be able to treat this condition through minimally invasive surgery. Using a catheter (thin, flexible tube), a surgeon repairs your aorta from within by placing a stent graft. This synthetic fabric tube includes metal wire supports to reinforce the weak area. 

You may not need surgery right away if the dissection isn’t blocking blood flow to your organs. Instead, your care team may use medication to slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. 

Our heart and vascular experts specialize in treating complex aortic dissections. We guide you through each step of surgery and recovery with coordinated support.