An aortic dissection — a tear in the inner wall of the aorta — was the likely cause of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The tear allowed blood to pool between the layers of the artery wall, reducing blood flow to vital organs and making the condition a fast-killing emergency, the AP reported.
The aorta is the body’s largest artery, carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aortic dissection occurs when a tear in the inner lining of the artery allows blood to flow between the vessel’s layers, according to the AP. The pooling blood can reduce flow to vital organs and may cause the artery wall to rupture, spilling blood into surrounding tissues, the AP explained. This makes the condition a fast-killing emergency, the report said.