Thursday, September 26, 2013

EMERGENCIES ALL SHOULD KNOW:AORTIC DISSECTION

AORTIC DISSECTION

The aorta is the large blood vessel that leads from the heart and carries blood to the rest of the body.In some cases, the dissection will cross all three layers of the aortic wall and cause immediate rupture and almost certain death. In most other cases, the blood is contained between the wall layers, usually causing pain felt in the back or flanks.






  • Type A dissections involve the ascending aorta and arch.
  • Type B involves the descending aorta
  • It is uncertain as to why the initial tear (rent) occurs in the intima layer of the aortic wall. Aortic dissection tends to occur most commonly in men between the ages of 50 and 70.Pain is the most common symptom of aortic dissection and is often described as tearing or ripping and often begins suddenly.The pain of an abdominal aortic dissection can be confused with the pain caused by a kidney stone.The health care professional should always be suspicious of aortic dissection as one of the three major causes of chest pain that can cause death, in addition to heart attack and pulmonary embolism.
  • The ABCs of resuscitation are always a priority.
  • Type A aortic dissections of the ascending aorta require stenting or surgery.
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  • Medical management (nonsurgical) is usually preferred for type B dissection of the descending aorta, but again, each patient needs to be assessed individually as to the specific treatment suggested. Medications are prescribed to aggressively control high blood pressure to prevent further dissection and aortic injury.
  • Any chest pain should not be ignored and medical care should be accessed immediately.Since the cause of the chest pain may be unknown, giving a baby aspirin to the patient is appropriate, as is providing nitroglycerin. 
  • next in blog:
  • ARRHYTHMIAS
    HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS
    HYPOTENSION
    BRONCHOSPASM
    FOREIGN BODY(AIRWAY)
    EPISTAXIS
    HYPOGLYCEMIA
    ACUTE PAIN ABDOMEN
    HAEMETEMESIS
    THROMBOSED,PAINFUL PILES
    ACUTE TUBULAR NECROSIS
    PARAPHIMOSIS
    TESTICULAR TORSION
    TRAUMA
    RENAL COLIC
    PRIAPISM
    ACUTE URINE RETENSION
    SEVERE PALLOR
    ABSCESS
    ANIMAL BITES
    POISONING
    BURNS
    SEIZURES
    PARALYTIC STROKE
    ANY PREGNANCY RELATED EVENT
    SUDDEN LOSS OR IMPAIRMENT OF VISION
    SUDDEN HEAD ACHE AND VOMITING
    HIGH GRADE FEVER
    NON-RESPONSIVENESS
    VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR
    SUDDEN CALF PAIN
    SEVERE BREATHLESSNESS

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