Key points:
– U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died Saturday at age 71.
– Preliminary findings from the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identify an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease as the likely cause.
– The official cause will remain pending until toxicology and microscopic testing are completed.
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s office announced on Sunday that the longtime senator had died Saturday evening after what was described as a “brief and sudden illness.” Hours later, the office released the preliminary results from the District of Columbia medical examiner indicating an aortic dissection, commonly called an aortic tear, associated with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Prior to the medical examiner’s preliminary report, media outlets obtained police dispatch audio indicating emergency responders were sent to Graham’s Washington, D.C., residence Saturday night for a medical emergency that escalated to cardiac arrest. The audio reportedly shows crews were initially dispatched for chest pain; responders forced entry to the home and began CPR when they arrived.
Graham had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and was a prominent Republican voice on national security and foreign policy. He also served as chair of the Senate Budget Committee.
What is an aortic dissection?
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when a tear forms in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery. Blood can then flow between the layers of the arterial wall, causing the wall layers to separate. This can reduce blood flow to vital organs or lead to rupture of the aorta.
Typical symptoms include sudden, severe chest or back pain, though symptoms may vary depending on which part of the aorta is involved. Without rapid diagnosis and treatment, an aortic dissection can quickly become fatal. Common risk factors include longstanding high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, certain inherited connective tissue disorders, and enlargement of the aorta.
The death certificate and final determination of cause will await completion of toxicology and microscopic testing. This is a developing story and further details will be published as they become available.
