Pearls from a core content talk on aortic dissection, syncope workshop and journal update on ATLS.
Core EM - Emergency Medicine Podcast Episode 10.0 – Aortic Dissection + Syncope
Aug 24, 2015
Dive into the fascinating world of aortic dissection and syncope in emergency medicine. Learn how critical patient history and atypical symptoms can change diagnoses. Discover high-risk indicators for syncope and essential EKG findings that can guide treatment. Plus, get insights from recent updates on ATLS protocols that aim to modernize approaches in trauma care. This discussion is packed with pearls of wisdom for both seasoned professionals and aspiring clinicians!
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Challenges in Diagnosing Dissection
- Aortic dissection is rare, life-threatening, and presents variably, making diagnosis challenging.
- Classic signs like unequal pulses are specific but insensitive, leading to frequent missed diagnoses.
Key History Questions for Dissection
- Always ask chest pain patients about sudden onset, maximal intensity at onset, and pain radiation.
- Be alert for unusual symptom combos like chest pain with headache or neurological signs.
STEMI Patient's Hidden Dissection Clue
- A STEMI patient mentioned leg weakness during pain onset, which flagged the diagnosis.
- CTA revealed extensive aortic dissection from root to iliac artery.