Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Early Identification of Acute Aortic Root Dissection
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming a frequently utilized imaging tool in the emergency department (ED) as it can aid in early diagnosis of many pathologies. This is a case report of a 55-year-old male who presented to the emergency department by ambulance for sudden onset chest pain follow...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Critical Care |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7166230 |
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| Summary: | Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming a frequently utilized imaging tool in the emergency department (ED) as it can aid in early diagnosis of many pathologies. This is a case report of a 55-year-old male who presented to the emergency department by ambulance for sudden onset chest pain followed by a syncopal episode. Point-of-care echocardiogram revealed a large pericardial effusion with a significantly dilated aortic root, concerning for aortic dissection. Patient was emergently taken for a computed tomography (CT) scan, which was only remarkable for an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm but failed to show an aortic dissection flap. On repeat POCUS, a dissection intimal flap, large pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology, and aortic regurgitation were identified and later confirmed on transesophageal echocardiogram. This case report details a rare pathology that was correctly identified on initial POCUS before it was seen on CT scan. |
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| ISSN: | 2090-6439 |