Acute Aortic Syndrome
Overview
Acute aortic syndrome is a variety of acute painful and potentially life-threatening aortic pathologies that require immediate medical attention. Acute aortic syndrome includes aortic dissection, aortic ulcer, intramural hematoma and unstable or painful thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Symptoms
The symptoms may be very similar of an acute coronary syndrome – chest pain associated with acute blockage of the coronary arteries. However, acute aortic syndrome is life threatening and about hundred times more deadly than acute myocardial infarction. If untreated, mortality ranges from up to 1% per hour for the first two days. The rate may be reduced when the pathology is diagnosed promptly and treated by experienced physicians.
In a study on inappropriate treatment and misdiagonsis of acute aortic syndrome, misdiagnosis is estimated at 39%, which may lead to improper treatment with blood-thinner medication producing increased bleeding and extended hospital stays.
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