An aortic dissection is one of the most catastrophic cardiovascular emergencies a patient can experience. It can strike suddenly, progress rapidly, and become fatal within hours if not properly diagnosed and treated. Yet despite its severity, aortic dissection is frequently misdiagnosed in Florida emergency rooms.
When doctors fail to recognize the warning signs of this life-threatening condition, the consequences can be devastating—often resulting in wrongful death.
At Bounds Law Group, we represent families throughout Florida in complex cardiac medical malpractice cases. One of the most tragic and preventable errors we see is the failure to timely diagnose aortic dissection.
If you believe negligent medical care caused you or your loved one's injuries or death, complete our free case evaluation form or call 877-644-5122 today.
What Is an Aortic Dissection?
The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aortic wall. Blood surges through the tear, separating (or “dissecting”) the layers of the artery.
There are two primary types:
- Type A dissection: Involves the ascending aorta and requires immediate surgery.
- Type B dissection: Involves the descending aorta and may be managed medically or surgically depending on severity.
Type A dissections, in particular, are medical emergencies with extremely high mortality rates if not treated promptly.
Why Aortic Dissection Is Often Misdiagnosed
Aortic dissection can mimic other conditions, which increases the risk of diagnostic error. Patients often present with:
- Sudden, severe chest pain described as “tearing” or “ripping”
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting or stroke-like symptoms
- Weak or unequal pulses
Because these symptoms can resemble heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or even musculoskeletal pain, emergency room physicians must act quickly and order appropriate imaging studies.
Failure to consider aortic dissection in the differential diagnosis can be fatal.
Common Medical Errors in Aortic Dissection Cases
In Florida medical malpractice cases involving aortic dissection, we often see recurring patterns of negligence.
Failure to Order Proper Imaging
The gold standard for diagnosing aortic dissection is advanced imaging such as:
- CT angiography (CTA)
- Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
- MRI (in certain cases)
If physicians fail to order appropriate imaging—or delay ordering it—the diagnosis may be missed entirely.
Misinterpreting Diagnostic Tests
Even when imaging is performed, errors can occur if radiologists or physicians misread the results. A missed tear in the aorta can cost a patient their life.
Treating the Patient for the Wrong Condition
Because aortic dissection can resemble a heart attack, patients are sometimes given anticoagulants (blood thinners). In a dissection case, this can worsen internal bleeding and accelerate death.
Failure to Recognize High-Risk Patients
Certain individuals are at higher risk for aortic dissection, including those with:
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan syndrome)
- Prior heart surgery
- Known aortic aneurysms
Physicians must consider aortic dissection when high-risk patients present with sudden chest or back pain.
The Devastating Consequences of Delayed Diagnosis
Aortic dissections can progress quickly. Without emergency surgical intervention (for Type A dissections), mortality increases dramatically with each passing hour.
Delayed or missed diagnosis may result in:
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Stroke
- Organ failure
- Massive internal bleeding
- Wrongful death
In many tragic cases, families are told their loved one “suddenly collapsed” without explanation—only to later discover that warning signs were present in the emergency room.
Florida Medical Malpractice Law and Diagnostic Errors
Under Florida Statutes Chapter 766, healthcare providers must meet the prevailing professional standard of care. This includes properly evaluating symptoms, ordering appropriate diagnostic tests, and responding to life-threatening emergencies in a timely manner.
In a failure-to-diagnose case, the key legal question becomes:
Would a reasonably prudent physician under similar circumstances have identified the aortic dissection and initiated life-saving treatment sooner?
If the answer is yes—and the delay caused harm or death—the provider may be liable for medical malpractice.
These cases often require extensive expert review, including cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, cardiothoracic surgeons, and radiologists.
Warning Signs Families Should Pay Attention To
Families may suspect medical negligence when:
- The patient was discharged from the ER and later collapsed.
- Doctors initially diagnosed muscle strain, anxiety, or acid reflux.
- There were delays in obtaining CT imaging.
- Blood pressure was severely elevated but not properly addressed.
- Symptoms were dismissed despite severe pain complaints.
Medical records often reveal that red flags were documented but not acted upon appropriately.
Wrongful Death Claims for Aortic Dissection in Florida
When failure to diagnose an aortic dissection leads to death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim under Florida law.
Compensation may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship and protection
- Mental pain and suffering (for eligible survivors)
These claims are not only about compensation—they are about accountability and preventing similar tragedies from happening to other families.
The Complexity of Aortic Dissection Malpractice Cases
Aortic dissection cases are medically and legally complex. They often involve:
- Rapidly evolving emergencies
- Detailed imaging interpretation
- Competing expert opinions
- Aggressive defense from hospital legal teams
- Strict pre-suit requirements under Florida law
Florida requires plaintiffs to complete a pre-suit investigation, including obtaining a corroborating expert affidavit before filing a lawsuit. Missing deadlines or procedural requirements can jeopardize a claim.
At Bounds Law Group, we understand how to navigate these complex requirements and build strong cases grounded in medical evidence.
Contact Bounds Law Group for a Free Consultation
If your loved one died after being misdiagnosed or discharged from a Florida hospital with what was later discovered to be an aortic dissection, you deserve answers.
Bounds Law Group represents victims of serious cardiac medical malpractice throughout Florida. We work with respected medical experts to determine whether earlier diagnosis and treatment would have changed the outcome.
Contact Bounds Law Group today for a confidential, free consultation. Let us review the medical records, explain your legal options, and help you seek justice.
Sources
- American Heart Association – Aortic Dissection Overview
Educational information regarding symptoms, diagnosis, and emergency treatment of aortic dissection.
https://www.heart.org - National Library of Medicine – Aortic Dissection Clinical Information
Peer-reviewed medical overview discussing presentation, diagnosis, and mortality risks associated with aortic dissection.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441963/ - Florida Statutes Chapter 766 – Medical Malpractice Law
Florida law governing medical negligence claims and standard of care requirements.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0766/0766.html