Written for www.physiciansweekly.com by: Kim A. Eagle, MD

Albion Walter Hewlett Professor, Internal Medicine Chief, Clinical Cardiovascular Medicine University of Michigan Health System Director and Education Lead University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center

A study from University of Michigan researchers shows that the signs or symptoms of acute aortic dissection can usually be identified using a risk score generated by a simple bedside screening tool.

It has been estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 aortic dissections occur in patients each year in the United States, and nearly one-third of these individuals will die before hospital discharge. Despite recent advances in diagnostic tools and surgery, the tearing of the aorta can be challenging for even the most experienced cardiovascular specialists to diagnose. In 2010, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology released clinical guidelines—developed in collaboration with 10 professional societies—for the diagnosis and management of thoracic aortic disease, emphasizing high-risk clinical features that indicate the presence of acute aortic dissection (AAD).

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