Point of Care Ultrasound Detection of Ascending Aortic Dissection in a Patient with ST Elevation and Hypotension
Sunday, April 7, 2024
2:10pm – 2:17pm
Location: 412
Authors: Rachel Armstrong, Michigan State College of Human Medicine Jordan Johnson, Emergency Care Specialists
An adult patient presenting to the emergency department with ECG ST elevations and hypotension would typically result in activation of the cardiac catheterization lab; however, this trajectory could have resulted in this patient’s death. In this case, point of care ultrasound was performed, revealing a large pericardial effusion and eventual diagnosis and repair of an acute ascending aortic dissection. Aortic dissection is associated with high in-hospital mortality rates and often displays overlapping signs and symptoms with myocardial infarction. As such, it is useful to evaluate for evidence of aortic dissection with bedside ultrasound, especially in patients with ischemic EKG changes and hypotension. This case highlights the importance of adequate training in performing and interpreting point of care ultrasound among emergency medicine physicians.