Aortic dissection is defined as disruption of the medial layer of the wall of the aorta provoked by intramural bleeding, resulting in separation of the aortic wall layers and subsequent formation of a true lumen and a false lumen with or without communication. Acute aortic dissection (less than 14 days since onset) is distinct from subacute (15-90 days) and chronic aortic dissection (more than 90 days).1
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/aortic-dissection