Finding TAD Early

Once the aorta is torn, even for those who survive, it cannot be the same as if their aorta had never been damaged. Proactive screening and monitoring those at risk, along with more knowledge through research, are aimed at preventing aortic catastrophes.

Thoracic Aortic Disease (TAD) - What are Aortic Dissection and IMH? Wall of the Aorta The aortic wall has three layers: • intima, a thin inner layer • media, a thicker, elastic, middle layer • adventitia, a thin outer layer Dissection When the inner layer of the aorta tears and separates from the outer layer (adventitia), it is called dissection. Blood enters the middle layer (media), separating the inner and outer layers. The blood remains inside the aorta and does not escape out into the body. Dissection of the aorta may be Type A or Type B. • Type A dissection begins in the ascending aorta. It is quite common for Type A dissection to start just above the coronary arteries. • Type B dissection always affects the descending aorta but not the ascending aorta. Intramural Hematoma (IMH) When bleeding occurs inside the aortic wall, but there is no detectable tearing of the inner layer, it is called Intramural (inside the wall) Hematoma or IMH.