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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
aortic dissention/aortic aneurysm
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
aortic dissention/aortic aneurysm
by Kristine__0, Oct 28, 1998 12:00AM
Hello. Could you please explain the difference between aortic dissention and aortic aneurysm and what the symptoms are? Could you also list the causes of both conditions and what test(s) are used to diagnose them? I was also wondering if having a heart catheterization can cause either of these conditions (from damage to the aorta from the catheter). I'm curious because I had a catheterization about 10 months ago that was normal, however recently a nurse told me she heard a murmur that sounded aortic (that had never been heard before) The first thing I thought was that my aorta had been damaged from irritation to the walls from the catheter. I know it's not my valve because I've had echos. This may be far fetched, but I did feel pain during the catheterization that has yet to be explained to me by my doctor (so I've just assumed this whole time that the catheter damaged something because frankly my doctor doesn't know why I felt the pain) And I also experience a quick pain in my upper chest just to the right of the middle that comes and goes that I did not experience before having the procedure. So having the catheterization seems to have actually made me worry MORE rather than ease my mind. I'm confused. Please help.
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Dear Kristine,
Thank you for your question. I believe you mean aortic dissection. This is a tear in the wall of the aorta. It is a possible but very very rare complication of heart catheterization. Aortic aneurysm is a dilation of the aorta that occurs over many years. It can not be caused by cath. I would suggest discussing your concerns with your doctor. It is possible he could check a echo to rule out any possibility of disscetion if necessary.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
