Aortic rupture is the rupture or breakage of the aorta, the largest artery in the body. Aortic rupture is a rare, extremely dangerous condition. The most common cause is an abdominal aortic aneurysm that has ruptured spontaneously. Aortic rupture is distinct from aortic dissection, which is a tear through the inner wall of the aorta that can block the flow of blood through the aorta to the heart or abdominal organs.
Aortic rupture | |
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Aorta segments, with thoracic aorta in area marked in green. | |
Specialty | Vascular surgery, cardiology, emergency medicine |
Symptoms | Abdominal pain, flank pain, or back pain |
Complications | Shock, anemia |
Usual onset | Acute |
Causes | Ruptured aortic aneurysm, trauma |
Treatment | Surgical repair |
Prognosis | Poor |
Deaths | Up to 90% of cases |
An aortic rupture can be classified according to its cause into one of the following main types:
- Traumatic aortic rupture
- Aortic rupture secondary to an aortic aneurysm[1]
Signs and symptoms
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Causes
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Mechanism
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Diagnosis
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Prevention
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Treatment
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Prognosis
editAn aortic rupture is a catastrophic medical emergency. People rarely survive such an injury. Mortality from aortic rupture is up to 90%. 65–75% of patients die before they arrive at hospital and up to 90% die before they reach the operating room.[2]
References
edit- ^ Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm at Patient UK. Original Author: Laurence Knott. Current Version: Gurvinder Rull. Peer Reviewer: Hannah Gronow. Last Checked: 16/05/2012
- ^ Brown, LC; Powell, JT (September 1999). "Risk factors for aneurysm rupture in patients kept under ultrasound surveillance. UK Small Aneurysm Trial Participants". Annals of Surgery. 230 (3): 289–96, discussion 296-7. doi:10.1097/00000658-199909000-00002. PMC 1420874. PMID 10493476.