Auscultation Serendipitously Leading to the Discovery of a Type A Aortic Dissection: The Lost Art of Physical Examination

Ahmed Elzanaty; Ebrahim Sabbagh; Dinkar Kaw; Ehab Eltahawy

doi:10.7759/cureus.5358

Auscultation Serendipitously Leading to the Discovery of a Type A Aortic Dissection: The Lost Art of Physical Examination

Cureus. 2019 Aug 10;11(8):e5358. doi: 10.7759/cureus.5358.

Authors

Ahmed Elzanaty¹, Ebrahim Sabbagh², Dinkar Kaw³, Ehab Eltahawy²

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, USA.
² Cardiology, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, USA.
³ Internal Medicine: Nephrology, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, USA.

Abstract

In the current era of rapidly advancing and evolving medicine, a huge emphasis has been placed on the utilization of diagnostic tests and imaging, as well as on following updated guidelines, at the expense of focusing on clinical exams and honing these skills. Poor physical exam skills is a definite risk to patient safety, as they might lead to the misdiagnosis of, sometimes, fatal diseases. In this case, we discuss a case of complicated aortic dissection type A that initially presented to us as a case of worsening chronic graft rejection. Aortic dissection type A was solely uncovered by clinical exam despite unusual presenting symptoms and grossly benign basic labs and initial chest radiograph.

Keywords: aortic dissection.

Publication types

Case Reports