What Are the Treatments for a Dissected Artery?

Arterial dissection or a dissected artery occurs when the tissue in one of the blood vessels that carries oxygenated blood throughout your body becomes torn. Dissected arteries cause one-fifth of all strokes in young people, according to the Department of Neurology at Hammersmith Hospital.

Significance

• Usually, the dissected artery heals on its own, according to UCSF Children's Hospital. Treatment for arterial dissection usually revolves around trying to decrease the risk of stroke posed by the tear.

Background

• When an artery becomes dissected, changes in blood flow sometimes cuts off the artery completely. This results in a lack of oxygen to the brain that triggers a stroke.

Types of Medication

• The most common treatment to prevent strokes in patients suffering from arterial dissection is the use of prescription medications to thin the blood and decrease the pressure on the torn artery. Commonly prescribed bloodthinners include aspirin, warfarin and heparin.

Features

• Infrequently, the arterial dissection requires a surgical reinforcement to prevent the blood vessel from collapsing, explains the UCSF Children's Hospital. This involves inplanting a stent or a wire mesh tube inside of the artery.

Time Frame

• The arterial dissection can heal in as little as two days or as long as 18 months, depending on the severity of the tear, reports the Department of Neurology at Hammersmith Hospital.