AORTIC DISSECTION

Course overview

WHILE UNCOMMON, ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION IS AN INFREQUENT BUT CATASTROPHIC DISORDER. PATIENTS PRESENT WITH TEARING CHEST PAIN THAT RADIATES TO THE BACK. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DIFFERENTIATE AORTIC DISSECTION FROM OTHER CAUSES OF CHEST PAIN. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE ETIOLOGY, CLASSIFICATION, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF AORTIC DISSECTION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAMS IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR SUCH PATIENTS.