Nursing patients with acute aortic dissection in emergency departments

Abstract

Acute aortic dissection is an emergency condition that is often missed during initial assessment. Delay in diagnosis increases mortality, but the presentation can mimic several more common conditions. Emergency practitioners must maintain a high index of suspicion in patients who present with chest or back pain and ensure timely diagnostic testing and interpretation of results if aortic dissection is suspected.

Keywords: back pain; cardiorespiratory; cardiovascular diseases; chest pain; emergency care; pain; patient assessment; patients.