What is it ?
An aneurysm is an abnormal swelling in a weakened blood vessel while dissection is said to have occurred when blood enters through a lengthwise tear between layers of the wall of aorta or an artery (a blood vessel carrying blood from the heart to the body). These layers then separate and swell, making a thin walled balloon-like formation that causes severe pain. This condition can be a birth defect, a complication of disease like atherosclerosis or injury. High blood pressure also contributes to this disease.

The patient may experience pain in chest, abdomen, or back, and may affect the hips and legs, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, blood in stools, fainting, difficulty in swallowing, or just headache.

The diagnosis can usually be arrived at following review of history, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), CT scan (computerized x-rays), angiogram (x-rays after a dye has been injected into an artery), Echocardiogram, and blood tests.