Every year on September 19th, Aortic Dissection Awareness Day serves as a vital reminder to educate the public and healthcare community about this life-threatening, and often misunderstood, medical emergency.
What is aortic dissection?
Aortic dissection is a cardiac condition that occurs when a tear forms in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Blood then surges through this tear, causing the layers of the aortic wall to separate, which can lead to a catastrophic rupture if not treated immediately.
While aortic dissection can happen to anyone, it is most common in men in their sixties and seventies, and is also more prevalent in individuals with certain genetic conditions. Other risk factors include high blood pressure and a family history of aortic disease.
Delays in diagnosing aortic dissection
One of the greatest dangers of aortic dissection is that its symptoms are often mistaken for other, more common conditions like a heart attack, stroke, or severe indigestion. The signs can be sudden and severe, including a sharp, “tearing” pain in the chest or upper back that may radiate to other parts of the body. Other symptoms can include a weak pulse, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.
At Enable Law we have represented many families who have lost a loved one because of a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of aortic dissection caused by paramedics or hospital staff mistaking it for another condition.
Raising awareness about aortic dissection
Organisations worldwide, such as the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust and the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland, use this day to launch campaigns, host educational events, and promote research into this critical condition.
A few of our clients have joined forces with charities and shared their stories with the media to help raise awareness of the condition and empower patients to raise concerns with medical professionals when they feel their symptoms may be linked to aortic dissection but treated as something else.
Recently, Sharon Goddard’s story was featured on the BBC, while David Burgess’ was on ITV.
We continue to empower patients and families to share their stories to help stop preventable outcomes from being repeated again and again in relation to this life threatening but treatable condition with more stories being shared throughout the course of this month.
How we can help
Jackie Linehan has extensive expertise supporting patients and loved ones whose delay in diagnosis has had a catastrophic impact in their lives. We have a deep understanding of aortic dissection claims and can help anyone with concerns around the care they or their loved one received. To speak to a member of our team call us on 0800 0448488 or fill in our contact form here so we can get in touch with you at a time convenient for you.
