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Adult Medical Emergency Handbook - Scottish Intensive Care Society

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i<br />

• <strong>Emergency</strong> multislice computed tomography, magnetic resonance<br />

imaging or transoesophageal echocardiography should be<br />

considered to diagnose and define the extent of the dissection.<br />

Early mortality in acute dissection of the ascending aorta is 10%<br />

per hour. Surgery can be life saving and should not be delayed.<br />

Never transfer a patient for surgery without adequate BP control<br />

with IV therapy.<br />

INVESTIGATION ALGORITHM FOR ACUTE AORTIC<br />

DISSECTION<br />

Aortic dissection<br />

confirmed<br />

Involves ascending<br />

aorta (type A)<br />

Urgent surgical<br />

opinion<br />

Suspected acute aortic dissection<br />

Transthoracic echocardiography<br />

Dissection limited<br />

to arch and/or<br />

descending aorta<br />

(type B)<br />

Conservative<br />

management<br />

Echo normal or<br />

inconclusive<br />

Further noninvasive<br />

imaging<br />

TOE, CT or MRI<br />

adult medical emergencies handbook | NHS LOTHIAN: UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DIVISION | 2009/11<br />

131

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