Video: Aortic Aneurysm vs Aortic Dissection: What’s the Difference?

Aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections are often confused, but they're not the same thing. They're both serious. They can both rupture. They can both be fatal. But importantly, an aneurysm is when part of the aorta becomes abnormally enlarged, growing like a balloon. A dissection is different. A tear develops on the inside lining of the blood vessel, and blood then tracks between the layers of the wall, creating a second channel called a false lumen.

Now, confusingly, you can have an aneurysm without a dissection, and you can have a dissection without an aneurysm, but one can lead to another. The nomenclature is important because it really matters how we treat them. So if you are concerned, go and see a vascular surgeon and get screened.