Anyone heard of an Aortic dissection

An aortic aneurysm is not an aortic dissection. Aneurysm is a bulge in the aortic wall, a dissection is a tear.

As I understand it, a scan is offered to men at 65 (DH was offered one, I think) but not to women, on the basis that it's usually men who get an aortic aneurism. From the comments above, that's clearly not true!

A scan is routinely offered at 65 I think to pick up early signs of an aortic aneurism, caught in time it can be repaired, if it does rupture - curtains. A friends husband had one the size of a football, he’s fine now, an average 74 yr old.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4514301-to-think-my-husband-is-gravely-ill-at-the-wrong-time?page=1

this is the first one.

My father had an aortic aneurism that ruptured. Although he made it through the operation his heavy smoking meant that he developed pneumonia after the long anaesthetic. He spent 4 months in and out of ICU and died of a pulmonary embolism.

My friend's dad died of this condition waiting for an ambulance that took hours

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4559331-to-think-my-husband-is-gravely-ill-at-the-wrong-time-thread-2?page=1

this is the second one; there was an earlier thread which filled 40 pages...
you can click on, see all, in the OP, to skip from each of the OP's postings.

My mum died from this condition..When she was diagnosed the consultant told us they couldn't operate...We were told if it ruptured she wouldn't make it to A&E...It did rupture at home, she made it to A&E and lived for 2days...It was heartbreaking...

So sorry Septimia.
Early days yet for me as it only happened on 3rd July. Sadly I was carer for my husband with dementia who has had to go into a care home.
Welbeck I would appreciate it if you could find theMN thread as the more information the better!
Perhaps I should do the lottery - but I may have used all my luck up just being alive!

Yep, I've heard of it - my mum died of it and the resulting tampanard.

i have heard of it, but don't know enough to be any use.
there was a long detailed thread about it on MN recently.
about touch and go whether it would be treated in time etc, quite stressful, even just to read, as well as some detailed input from a vascular surgeon, who specialised in it.
do you really want to read all the ins and outs, risks etc. if so i can try to trace the link for you.
glad it all went well for you.

As an Cardiac Echocardiographer, it a condition that once found needs urgent care, its not that common, you really are lucky to be able to tell the tale.

Google it, as its rather complicated to explain on here.
Fantastic news to hear you are okay.

I had an aortic valve replacement thanks to the brilliant cardiology dept at Victoria hospital Blackpool. That was 12 years ago. 10 years longer than the prognosis of 2 years if I hadn't had the op.

Well its a very serious 'event' you were lucky to survive our NHS to the rescue. My husband had a similar event an Aortic Aneurysm he too survived against the odds thanks to our NHS. I hope you are now well and recovered.