When the dissection begins in the descending thoracic aorta it is described as a type III dissection. The dissection is type IIIa if only the thoracic aorta is involved and type IIIb if the thoracic and abdominal aorta are involved. B. If symptoms have been present for less than 2 weeks the dissection is described as acute, otherwise, it is chronic. At 7 micrograms of dopamine, the patient is holding a BP of 85 and a pulse ox of 96 with 3 liters of oxygen. They don't remember who her doctor is and they aren't really sure what medication she takes.
Hypertension is a common associated factor.
Connective tissue disorders such as Marfans syndrome and Ehler-Danlos syndrome predispose to this disorder, possibly secondary to the degeneration of medial elastic tissue. Congenital heart disease, such as coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid or stenotic aortic valves are also factors to consider. Pregnancy is also reported to be associated, as is systemic lupus, polycystic kidneys, Cushing's syndrome, and giant cell arteritis. There is a familial tendency to aortic aneurysms and recently, aortic dissections have been reported in association with cocaine use. Dissections have been observed in weight lifters and in two cases occurred during lifting.