The diagnosis of aortic dissection by emergency medicine ultrasound.
A series of five cases of aortic dissection are presented that were diagnosed by emergency physicians using ultrasound to search the abdominal and thoracic aorta for pathology. Aortic dissection is a vascular emergency with a high morbidity and mortality, yet its presentation can be varied and subtle. This article reports the use of Emergency ultrasound in a series of five aortic dissections discovered with a limited, yet timely viewing of the aorta and heart by emergency physicians.
Fojtik
John P
JP
Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
Costantino
Thomas G
TG
Dean
Anthony J
AJ
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed