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Detection of Type B Aortic Dissection in the Emergency Department with Point-of-Care Ultrasound. Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine Earl-Royal, E., Nguyen, P. D., Alvarez, A., Gharahbaghian, L. 2019; 3 (3): 202–7

Abstract

Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare, time-sensitive, and potentially fatal condition that can present with subtle signs requiring timely diagnosis and intervention. Although definitive diagnosis is most accurately made through computed tomography angiography, this can be a time-consuming study and the patient may be unstable, thus preventing the study's completion. Chest radiography (CXR) signs of AD are classically taught yet have poor diagnostic reliability. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used by emergency physicians for the rapid diagnosis of emergent conditions, with multiple case reports illustrating the sonographic signs of AD. We present a case of Stanford type B AD diagnosed by POCUS in the emergency department in a patient with vague symptoms, normal CXR, and without aorta dilation. A subsequent review of CXR versus sonographic signs of AD is described.

View details for DOI 10.5811/cpcem.2019.5.42928

View details for PubMedID 31404375