Korean J Fam Med.  2013 Nov;34(6):429-433. 10.4082/kjfm.2013.34.6.429.

A Case of Acute Aortic Dissection Presenting with Chest Pain Relieved by Sublingual Nitroglycerin

• Kim HJ
• Lee HK
• Cho B

• KMID: 2304169
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2013.34.6.429

Abstract

Acute aortic dissection is an uncommon disorder which can have fatal results in the event of treatment delay or misdiagnosis. This case examines a 77-year-old woman presenting with chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin. She was referred to the emergency room with clinical suspicion of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, she was later diagnosed with acute aortic dissection and an emergency operation was performed with successful recovery. Aortic dissection may manifest in various ways depending on the site involved and may mimic other disorders such as ACS or pulmonary embolism. Therefore, clinicians must always be aware of aortic dissection and its different clinical manifestations must be understood.

Keyword

Aortic Dissection; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Chest Pain; Diagnosis; Symptom

MeSH Terms

Acute Coronary Syndrome
Aged
Chest Pain*
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Errors
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Nitroglycerin*
Pulmonary Embolism
Thorax*
Nitroglycerin