9
Figure 6. Acute Aortic Syndromes
In aortic dissection, a tear in the aortic intima allows blood to penetrate the aortic
media, pushing the dissection flap into the middle of the aorta, separating the true from
the false lumen.
In intramural hematoma, blood leaks into the aortic media at low pressure, forming
a thrombus that pushes the outer wall of the aorta outward, leaving a relatively normal
appearing aortic lumen.
A penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer allows blood to enter the aortic media, but
atherosclerotic scarring of the aorta typically confines the blood collection, oen resulting
in a localized dissection or pseudoaneurysm.
Adapted with permission from Springer Nature Customer Service Centre GmbH: Springer
Nature, Copyright 2015. Clough, et al. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2015;12:103-114.
