Newly released information about Sen. Lindsey Graham’s reported sudden death has put renewed focus on a fast-moving cardiovascular crisis that can turn deadly in a matter of minutes.
In a statement issued Sunday, Graham’s office said preliminary findings from the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as an aortic dissection brought on by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Officials said Graham, 71, was taken to George Washington University Hospital and was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. Saturday. An autopsy was performed the following day.
“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the statement said.
Fox News Digital contacted Graham’s office for additional comment.
What is an aortic dissection?
An aortic dissection is considered a life-threatening emergency. According to Mayo Clinic, it happens when a tear forms in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery.
“It occurs when the layers of the aorta come apart and the inner one tears,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital.
When blood surges through that tear, it can force the layers of the aortic wall apart. Without immediate treatment, the condition can cut off blood flow to major organs or cause a rupture that may be fatal.
“It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize,” added Siegel, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.
Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina, said the best way to visualize the condition is to think of the aorta as a hose.
“The wall of the hose has multiple layers to it, and if the layers separate, the water can no longer pass down the regular opening in the tube,” Perry, who also was not involved in Graham’s care, told Fox News Digital. “Often, this starts as a very small tear that keeps progressing because of the water pressure.”
“The same thing is happening in the aorta,” he went on. “The small tear in the wall of the aorta continues to progress, usually from severely elevated blood pressure.”
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As the tear continues past the smaller arteries coming from the aorta, blood can no longer flow from the heart to the other organs.
“This causes the organs that need that blood to die from lack of oxygen,” Perry said. “The only way to survive such a diagnosis is very early identification and strict blood pressure control with emergent operative management.”
Aortic dissection is relatively rare, affecting an estimated three to four people per 100,000 each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
What causes an aortic dissection?
In Graham’s case, the preliminary findings cited arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This condition is most commonly associated with atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up inside the arteries, causing them to harden and narrow.
Over time, this process can weaken the wall of the aorta, increasing the risk of an aortic dissection.
High-risk groups
Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease can develop over time and is driven by several factors, according to the American Heart Association and Mayo Clinic.
Some of the groups at highest risk include the following.
- People with uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension), which places constant stress on the aortic wall
Warning signs you should never ignore
Symptoms of an aortic dissection can come on suddenly and often mimic those of a heart attack or stroke, experts say.
Anyone experiencing any of the below warning signs should call 911 for immediate emergency medical care, according to Siegel and other health experts.
- Sudden, severe chest or upper back pain, often described as tearing, ripping, or stabbing, which may spread to the neck or back
“Aortic dissection is one of the diseases that emergency physicians think of often when someone presents with chest pain — specifically pain described as a tearing sensation, with elevated blood pressure,” Perry told Fox News Digital.
“We often describe the aortic dissection patient as appearing to have a ‘kidney stone of the chest,’ — meaning they have severe pain and cannot get comfortable, similar to kidney stone patients.”
Diagnosis and treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment greatly improve the chances of survival for those who have suffered an aortic dissection.
Doctors typically diagnose an aortic dissection using imaging tests, including a CT scan, transesophageal echocardiogram (ultrasound), magnetic resonance angiography (MRI-based scan), and chest X-ray, per Mayo Clinic.
The condition requires immediate medical treatment, which will depend on which part of the aorta is affected.
Type A dissections involve the ascending (upper) aorta near the heart, which typically require emergency surgery.
Type B dissections affect the descending (lower) aorta farther from the heart, according to Mayo Clinic. These may be treated with medications to lower blood pressure and heart rate, although some may also require surgery or a stent.
Those who survive the event will generally need lifelong blood pressure management and regular imaging to monitor the aorta, per the above source.
“This condition has a high mortality rate,” Siegel said.
According to the American Heart Association, an untreated acute aortic dissection is one of the deadliest cardiovascular emergencies.
For untreated dissections involving the ascending aorta, the risk of death increases by approximately 1% to 2% for every hour treatment is delayed after symptoms begin, according to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Without treatment, more than half of people with a Type A aortic dissection die within one month. About 20% of Type A patients will die in the hospital, compared to 10% for treated Type B dissections.
Can it be prevented?
While not all aortic dissections can be prevented, people can reduce their risk by controlling certain lifestyle factors.
“You need to make sure your blood pressure is well-controlled, your cholesterol is low, and that you are seen regularly by a doctor,” Siegel advised.
Smokers should kick the habit, he said, as they are at a highly increased risk.
Maintaining a healthy weight and following treatment plans for underlying heart or vascular conditions can also reduce the risk, according to Mayo Clinic.
People with a family history of aortic disease or inherited connective tissue disorders should discuss screening with their healthcare provider, doctors advise.
