Treating an Aortic Dissection

Sometimes the aorta—the largest blood vessel in our bodies—can tear, allowing blood to flow between layers of the aortic wall. This dissection can block blood from flowing to other parts of the body, including the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac surgeon Dr. Jason Glotzbach says this can become a critically dangerous problem with few warning symptoms, but people suffering from it usually experience severe pain. Learn about the two types of aortic dissection, what can cause them, and how they're treated.