AAS - Acute Aortic Syndromes
Summary
AAS is a group of life-threatening aortic breaches of the aortic wall integrity. The most common AAS are aortic dissection, intramural hematoma (IMH), and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), all of which can lead to rupture1-AHA
Terms
- Aortic Dissection
- tear in the aortic intima
- Intramural Hematoma
- at low pressure, blood leaks into aortic media. A thrombus forms that pushes the aortic wall outward. Lumen remains relatively normal.
- Penetrating Atherosclerotic Ulcer
- an ulceration of an atherosclerotic plaque that penetrates the internal elastic lamina and extends into the media.
Acute Aortic Syndromes
Image Source: Isselbacher EM, Preventza O, Hamilton Black J 3rd, et al. 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2022;146(24):e334-e482. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001106