Acute aortic dissection: be aware of misdiagnosis

Abstract

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) may present with a variety of clinical manifestations, like syncope, chest pain, anuria, pulse deficits, abdominal pain, back pain, or acute congestive heart failure. Nearly a 2/3 of the patients found to be suffering from AAD, were initially otherwise diagnosed. Key in the management of AAD is to maintain a high level of suspicion for this diagnosis widely using chest X-ray, computed tomography, transthoracic echocardiography at once on admission