There are sudden-onset symptoms of TAD that may be life-threatening. If you think that you, or someone with you, might be experiencing an aortic emergency, call 911 immediately.
This condition is called Acute Aortic Syndrome, and involves the following: 
- Aortic pain
- Dissection (including intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic plaque)
- Rupture
If the aorta tears or dissects, pain typically begins suddenly in the chest, neck, or back and may be sharp, stabbing, or tearing. Milder forms of symptoms from the aorta may also occur, and should not be ignored, even if the pain goes away.
CT or TEE (trans esophageal echocardiogram) may be used to quickly image the aorta, looking for any tearing or bleeding in the aortic wall.