Three cases of diagnostic delay of type A acute aortic dissection

Abstract

Background Diagnostic delay (DD) can be lethal when patients with type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD). We report 3 cases of DD associated with TAAAD. Case presentation Case 1 is a female in her sixties presenting with severe back pain. A CT scan was taken, and TAAAD with a thrombosed false lumen was suspected by the radiology technician. He did not successfully transfer his concern to the physicians and the patient was sent home. The next day, she was transferred to another hospital with a recurrence of the symptom, and the diagnosis of TAAAD was made with a CT scan there. Case 2 was an 87-year-old female who was transferred to our hospital because of a loss of consciousness and bruises on the forehead. CT scan was taken and the displaced intimal flap in her aortic arch was overlooked by the part-time physician almost at the end of his shift. The diagnosis of TAAAD was made by the radiologist. Case 3 was the 44-year-old male who did not have health insurance and experienced severe back pain a few days before the visit to our clinic. On that day, he went to the nearby hospital’s emergency room, and only pain medication was prescribed. A few days later, a CT scan was taken at our hospital to investigate the cause of pyuria and the diagnosis of TAAAD was made. Conclusion DD may be common and multifactorial in our practice. Physicians need to take every step to improve diagnostic accuracy.