How Did Lindsey Graham Die? Aortic Dissection Explained

South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham died at the age of 71 on Saturday after suffering an aortic dissection, or tear, according to preliminary findings by a medical examiner, per the AP. The tear was related to the hardening of his arteries.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency; in 40 percent of cases, it’s instantly fatal. But it can be survivable if detected and treated in time.

Here’s what a surgeon who treats people with aortic dissection wants you to know, plus the warning signs to never ignore.

What Is an Aortic Dissection?

The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. This artery runs through the chest and abdomen and down to the legs.

A tear in the aorta’s walls is known as an aortic dissection. “An aortic dissection starts closer to the heart, but that tear can travel throughout the entire length of the aorta,” says Abdul Elnaggar, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon and the lead aortic surgeon at Penn State Health in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

When a dissection is severe, it can be immediately fatal. But some people with an aortic dissection may have uncomfortable symptoms before seeking care, says Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and the medical director of the structural heart program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California.

“Any bit of dissection will likely cause symptoms,” Dr. Chen says. “But it is possible that in the very beginning stages, patients may brush it off.”

About 13,000 Americans die each year from aortic dissection.

If an aortic dissection is detected and treated early, recovery is possible.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Aortic dissection is more common in men than women. In older adults, typical risk factors include:

People with connective tissue disorders, including Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and Loeys-Dietz syndrome, also have a higher risk of aortic dissection.

Symptoms of Aortic Dissection Can Mimic Those of Other Conditions

Aortic dissection often comes on suddenly and can happen at any time, including while someone is resting or sleeping.

Here are some notable symptoms:

Sudden, severe, sharp pain in the chest or upper back
Severe pain in the stomach
Shortness of breath
Fainting
Low blood pressure
Rapid weak pulse
Heavy sweating
Confusion
Vision loss
Stroke-like symptoms

“People describe the chest or back pain as a ‘tearing’ or ‘ripping’ feeling,” Chen says.

If the dissection is small, some people may experience discomfort that gets worse over minutes or hours as the dissection progresses, Chen says. But at a certain point, Dr. Elnaggar says, the pain is usually “severe and not subtle.”

Quick Treatment Is Crucial

Some patients will die immediately from aortic dissection, but others may have a short amount of time to get treatment, Elnaggar says. If someone has symptoms of aortic dissection, they should seek emergency care quickly, he says.

The treatment for aortic dissection is emergency open-heart surgery to remove the torn portion of the aorta, says Elnaggar. Without surgery, dissection is likely to be fatal.

The majority of people who receive surgery “will do fine and live a normal life afterward,” he adds.

Chen stresses the importance of seeking care immediately for chest pain. “If you have any chest discomfort, you should call 911,” he says. “While a heart attack is more common with chest pain, emergency room physicians will be thinking about aortic dissection as well.”

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