Aortic dissection

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Aortic aneurysm

Aortic dissection

Aortic rupture, chest X-ray

Aortic aneurysm - dissecting

• Chest pain
  • Sudden, severe, sharp, stabbing, tearing, or ripping
  • Located below the chest bone, then moves under the shoulder blades or to the back
  • May move to shoulder, neck, arm, jaw, abdomen, or hips
  • Location may change -- pain typically moves to the arms and legs as the aortic dissection gets worse
• Changes in thought ability, confusion, disorientation
• Decreased movement, any location
• Decreased sensation , any location
• Intense anxiety, anguish
• Pallor
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Profuse sweating  (clammy skin)
• Dry skin
• Dry mouth  
• Thirst
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness  
• Fainting
• Shortness of breath -- difficulty breathing when lying flat ( orthopnea )

The symptoms usually begin suddenly.

The health care provider will listen to your heart, lungs, and abdomen with a stethoscope. A "blowing" murmur over the aorta, a heart murmur, or other abnormal sound may be heard.

There may be a difference in blood pressure between the right and left arms, or between the arms and the legs.

There may be low blood pressure, bulging neck veins, or signs resembling a heart attack. There may be signs of shock (inadequate blood flow to the body tissues), but with normal blood pressure.

Aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm may be revealed on:

• Echocardiogram
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Chest x-ray -- may show chest widening or fluid in the lining of the lung (pleural effusion)
• Chest MRI
• CT scan of chest with dye
• Aortic angiography
• Doppler ultrasonography (occasionally performed)

Review Date: 05/27/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.