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Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for the early detection of thoracic aortic dissection

Early use of POCUS helps early detection of a life threatening condition.
A Case Study by
Original Research by
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“A case for POCUS to be the standard of care as the next diagnostic step after history and physical exam“

Introducción

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a rare condition which occurs with a frequency of 4 per 100,000. While it is a much less common cause of acute chest pain than myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism, it is far more lethal with 50% mortality within 48h. While classic teaching suggests that these patients present with severe chest pain radiating to the back, retrospective data documents that most patients have much more cryptic symptoms, including 10% who are pain free on presentation. Most patients have no clinical exam or basic diagnostic findings suggestive of TAD. The frequently cited accepted “standard of care” is for this diagnosis to be missed on initial presentation.

Historia del caso  

A 57 year old woman with a history of hypertension and chronic pain presents via EMS for altered mentation. She is vague as to why she is in the ED, noting a month of low grade chest pain and one week of increased chronic right shoulder pain. Review of her medical records reveals multiple calls over the past week to her PCP about her worsening shoulder pain with resultant prescriptions for a muscle relaxant and a benzodiazepine.  Her vital signs, exam, and EKG are normal except for a blood pressure of 123/62 mmHg, likely low for a patient with chronic hypertension.  She also seems somewhat wan in appearance. Given her recent prescriptions for the medications listed above, the initial working diagnosis was of a possible medication reaction. However, because of her relatively low blood pressure and her appearance, the provider performed a bedside ECHO with visualization of a pericardial effusion containing clotted blood and a dissection flap within the thoracic aorta. A CT scan, intravenous esmolol infusion, and blood products were ordered, CT surgery was notified, and an arterial line was placed using real-time ultrasound guidance. The patient underwent surgery within the hour.

Sample Imaging Exam

Parasternal long axis view with effusion and clotted blood

Aortic arch view with dissection flap in upper left


Arterial line placed with ultrasound guidance


¿Qué nos enseña esto?

Clinical medicine has evolved from relying solely on the history and physical exam for diagnosis to also include the use of other adjuncts such as EKGs, labs, and imaging to increase diagnostic accuracy. Basic tests, however, are often insufficiently sensitive for many critical conditions and more advanced imaging is expensive, time consuming, and may expose patients to significant radiation. POCUS is a diagnostic tool that can be used at the bedside early in patient assessment to increase diagnostic accuracy. It’s timely use can rapidly frame specific likely diagnoses and appropriate management strategies. In this case, rapid imaging with a hand held ultrasound system dramatically changed the course of management for a patient with vague complaints and a highly lethal condition.


Bibliografía

Hagan PG, Nienaber CA, Isselbacher EM, et al.  The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD): new insights into an old disease.  JAMA.2000;283:897-903.

Shokoohi H, Boniface KS, Pourmand A, et al.  Bedside Ultrasound Reduces Diagnostic Uncertainty and Guides Resuscitation in Patients With Undifferentiated Hypotension. Crit Care Med. 2015. 43(12) 2562-2569.


Image 1. Normal Side. Pediatric Lung setting, demonstrates clear pleural line with sliding and z lines (aka comet tails). No indication of B lines; normal appearing lung

Image 2. Abnormal side. Additional air bronchograms further identifying the consolidated lung region. With respiration consolidated lung is partially obscured by B lines. Consolidated lung with dynamic air bronchograms

Image 3. Abnormal Side. On left of image: few B lines indicating presence of fluid in lung, irregularly appearing pleural line with sub pleural consolidation (~ 2 cm in depth). Consolidated lung area looks like liver hence the term, lung hepatization. Echogenic dots are air bronchograms; these collections move with respiration therefore they are called dynamic air bronchograms. (Note: dynamic air bronchograms = pneumonia; static air bronchogram - no movement with respiration = atelectasis)

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