An aortic dissection is one of the most dangerous medical emergencies a person can experience. It occurs when a tear develops in the inner lining of the aorta, the body's largest artery, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the vessel wall. Without immediate diagnosis and treatment, an aortic dissection can lead to catastrophic internal bleeding, stroke, heart attack, organ failure, or sudden death.
Because the symptoms of an aortic dissection often resemble those of a heart attack, muscle strain, kidney stones, or indigestion, healthcare providers sometimes fail to recognize the condition. When emergency physicians, hospitals, or other healthcare providers delay diagnosis, patients may lose their chance for life-saving treatment.
At Bounds Law Group, we represent victims and families throughout Florida in complex medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. One of the most devastating forms of negligence we investigate involves the failure to diagnose and treat an aortic dissection before catastrophic complications occur.
Contact us today through our free case evaluation form or call 877-644-5122.
What Is an Aortic Dissection?
The aorta 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 aorta.
- Blood enters the wall of the artery.
- The layers of the aorta separate.
- Blood flow to vital organs may become blocked.
- The aorta may rupture completely.
Aortic dissections are classified based on where they occur.
Type A dissections involve the ascending aorta and generally require emergency surgery.
Type B dissections involve the descending aorta and may require surgery, endovascular repair, or intensive medical management depending on the circumstances.
Why Early Diagnosis Is Critical
Every minute matters when treating an aortic dissection.
Prompt treatment may include:
- Emergency cardiovascular surgery
- Endovascular repair (TEVAR) in appropriate patients
- Blood pressure control
- Intensive care monitoring
- Pain management
- Continuous cardiovascular monitoring
Without rapid treatment, the risk of death increases significantly.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Several factors increase the risk of an aortic dissection, including:
- Long-standing high blood pressure
- Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Prior aortic aneurysm
- Smoking
- Cocaine or stimulant use
- Age over 60
Healthcare providers should carefully evaluate high-risk patients who present with sudden chest or back pain.
Common Symptoms of Aortic Dissection
Symptoms often begin suddenly and are severe.
Sudden Severe Chest Pain
Many patients describe the pain as:
- Sharp
- Tearing
- Ripping
- Stabbing
The pain often begins abruptly.
Severe Back Pain
Pain frequently radiates between the shoulder blades or into the back.
Abdominal Pain
If the dissection extends into the abdominal aorta, patients may develop severe abdominal pain.
Shortness of Breath
Heart involvement can impair normal circulation.
Fainting
Reduced blood flow to the brain may cause loss of consciousness.
Stroke Symptoms
Some patients experience:
- Weakness
- Difficulty speaking
- Vision changes
- Paralysis
Differences in Blood Pressure or Pulses
Aortic dissection may produce:
- Unequal blood pressure between the arms
- Weak or absent pulses
- Reduced blood flow to one or more limbs
How Aortic Dissections Are Misdiagnosed
In Florida medical malpractice cases, aortic dissections are frequently mistaken for more common medical conditions.
Misdiagnosis as a Heart Attack
Chest pain often leads providers to focus exclusively on coronary artery disease.
Misdiagnosis as Musculoskeletal Pain
Back or chest pain may be attributed to muscle strain.
Misdiagnosis as Kidney Stones
Flank pain may mimic renal colic.
Misdiagnosis as Acid Reflux
Chest discomfort may be mistaken for gastrointestinal disease.
Failure to Order Appropriate Imaging
Diagnostic testing may include:
- CT angiography
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
- MRI angiography
Failure to obtain appropriate imaging is a common cause of delayed diagnosis.
Failure to Consult Cardiothoracic or Vascular Surgeons
Prompt specialist involvement is essential once an aortic dissection is suspected.
The Consequences of Delayed Diagnosis
When an aortic dissection is not diagnosed promptly, patients may suffer:
- Aortic rupture
- Massive internal bleeding
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Kidney failure
- Paralysis
- Organ failure
- Wrongful death
Many of these complications may be prevented through early diagnosis and treatment.
Florida's Standard of Care for Aortic Dissection
Under Florida Statutes Chapter 766, healthcare providers must meet the prevailing professional standard of care.
This includes:
- Recognizing symptoms consistent with aortic dissection
- Identifying high-risk patients
- Ordering emergency diagnostic imaging
- Consulting cardiovascular specialists promptly
- Initiating appropriate emergency treatment
If a reasonably prudent healthcare provider would have diagnosed and treated the dissection sooner—and the delay caused harm—medical malpractice may have occurred.
Warning Signs of Possible Negligence
Patients and families may suspect negligence when:
- Sudden tearing chest or back pain was dismissed.
- Appropriate imaging was delayed or never ordered.
- Blood pressure differences or abnormal pulses were overlooked.
- The patient was discharged despite concerning symptoms.
- Catastrophic complications occurred before the diagnosis was made.
Medical records frequently reveal missed warning signs and opportunities for earlier intervention.
Proving a Florida Aortic Dissection Malpractice Case
These cases often require review of:
- Emergency room records
- EMS records
- Hospital records
- CT scans and imaging studies
- Cardiology consultations
- Cardiothoracic surgery records
- Vital signs
- Physician and nursing documentation
- Timeline of symptoms and treatment
Expert testimony from cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, cardiologists, radiologists, and critical care specialists is typically required to establish whether the standard of care was violated.
Florida law also requires compliance with pre-suit procedures before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The Impact on Patients and Families
Even when patients survive an aortic dissection, they may experience:
- Permanent neurological deficits
- Kidney damage
- Chronic pain
- Lifelong cardiovascular monitoring
- Additional surgeries
- Emotional trauma
- Reduced quality of life
Families often face enormous financial and emotional burdens while helping loved ones recover from these catastrophic injuries.
Compensation in Florida Medical Malpractice Cases
Victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Emergency surgery costs
- Hospitalization and ICU care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Long-term rehabilitation
- Future medical care
If delayed diagnosis results in death, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death damages under Florida law.
The Complexity of Aortic Dissection Cases
Healthcare providers sometimes argue that aortic dissections are rare and difficult to diagnose because their symptoms overlap with more common conditions. While they are less common than heart attacks, accepted medical standards require physicians to consider an aortic dissection whenever patients present with sudden, severe chest, back, or abdominal pain—particularly when accompanied by pulse deficits, neurological symptoms, or significant hypertension.
These cases require:
- Detailed reconstruction of the patient's clinical timeline
- Expert cardiovascular analysis
- Review of emergency department decision-making
- Evaluation of diagnostic imaging and treatment delays
- Strict compliance with Florida medical malpractice law
At Bounds Law Group, we understand the devastating consequences of delayed diagnosis of an aortic dissection and are committed to helping victims and their families pursue justice.
Contact Bounds Law Group for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered serious injury because an aortic dissection was not diagnosed or treated promptly in Florida, you deserve answers.
Bounds Law Group represents victims of medical malpractice and wrongful death throughout Florida. We carefully review medical records, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, and treatment timelines to determine whether preventable negligence contributed to your injuries.
Contact Bounds Law Group today for a confidential, free consultation. Let us help you understand your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today through our free case evaluation form or call 877-644-5122.
Sources
- American Heart Association – Aortic Dissection
https://www.heart.org - Society for Vascular Surgery – Aortic Disease Resources
https://vascular.org - Florida Statutes Chapter 766 – Medical Malpractice Law
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/