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Aortic Dissection

 Syn. Aortic Dissections , Dissection of aorta

Signs & Symptoms

 Severe chest pain
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1921]
Abrupt onset of pain
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]
Acute chest pain
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1921] Cecil [ 162]
Sharp pain
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]

Physical Examination

 Acute chest pain
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1921] Cecil [ 162]
Acute back pain
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1921] Cecil [ 162]
Hypertension
Note: Both risk factor and sign
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1920]

Lab / Serology

 Elevated D-dimer
Note: A widely-used cutoff is 500 ng/mL; a level below this value is highly predictive for excluding dissection
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]
Hematuria
Ref: Harrison [ 1921]

Imagin Study

 Widening of the aortic silhouette
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]
Nonspecific T wave changes
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]
Nonspecific ST changes
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]

Complication

 Lower extremity ischemia
Note: Patients with distal (type B) aortic dissection
Ref: Cecil [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]
Hoarseness
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1921]
Horner syndrome
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection] Harrison [ 1921]

Risk Factors

 Elder
Ref: Uptodate [ Clinical features and diagnosis of acute aortic dissection]
Male
Ref: Harrison [ 1921]

Cause

Other