What it means
In an aortic dissection, blood forces its way between the layers of the aorta's wall. It is an emergency that often causes sudden, severe chest or back pain, sometimes described as tearing. In surgery, dissection means separating tissues to reach or remove a structure, as in a lymph node dissection.
For the nurse
A client with suspected aortic dissection needs emergency care: report at once, keep the client still, and expect drugs to lower blood pressure and heart rate.
At a glance
| Spanish | disección |
|---|---|
| Also written | dissections |
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
artery
A blood vessel that takes blood from the heart out to the body.
abdominal aortic aneurysm
A weak, bulging section of the aorta where it passes through the belly.