There are several complications of acute aortic dissection that emergency physicians must be familiar with.

These include:

• Cardiac tamponade (most common cause of death)
• Acute aortic regurgitation
• Stroke
• Free intrathoracic rupture
• Malperfusion syndrome (kidney, spinal cord, bowel, extremity, etc.)

*Key Pearl: If a patient with suspected or confirmed acute aortic dissection suddenly arrests consider cardiac tamponade.

References