Cardiology - Aortic Dissection

Question 1

What are the symptoms of an aortic dissection?

Answer 1

Chest pain

• sharp, tearing, radiates to the back
• Angina like pain if affects the coronary arteries
• Paraplegia if affecting the spinal arteries
• Limb ischaemia if affecting the distal aorta.
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Question 2

What are the signs of an aortic dissection?

Answer 2

Pulse deficit

• weak or absent carotid, brachial or femoral pulse
• variation (>20mmHg) in systolic blood pressure in both arms

Aortic Regurgitation