Aortic dissection is a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). As the tear extends along the wall of the aorta, blood can flow in between the layers of the blood vessel wall (dissection). Symptoms include sudden, severe chest or upper back pain that radiates to the neck or down the back, loss of consciousness and shortness of breath. Treatment may include surgery and medication, such as beta blockers. Aortic dissection (AD) occurs when an injury to the innermost layer of the aorta allows blood to flow between the layers of the aortic wall, forcing the layers apart. In most cases, this is associated with a sudden onset of severe chest or back pain, often described as "tearing" in character. During an aortic dissection the inner layer of your aorta tears, letting blood in where it usually doesn't go.Although acute aortic dissection classically produces sudden onset of severe chest pain that often has a tearing or ripping quality, he goals of early management of aortic dissection are to control pain and limit the extension of the dissection using anti-impulse therapy. Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is associated with unacceptably high mortality rate. Acute aortic dissection is defined as dissection occurring within 2 weeks of onset of pain