You were at work when the symptoms came on suddenly. Anxiety began to wash over you as you started to experience a searing pain in your chest and upper back as well as shortness of breath. You went to the emergency room where the doctors began assessing and treating you for a heart attack. Unfortunately, the doctors were wrong and you were actually experiencing an aortic dissection. This dangerous condition is life-threatening if missed or misdiagnosed and when a doctor fails to perform the correct diagnostic testing he puts your life in danger.
Did Your Doctor Miss Your Condition?
In order to correctly diagnose an aortic dissection, your doctor must complete the proper tests. If not, you could suffer a stroke, kidney failure, or sudden death. Any of the following tests could be used to diagnose an aortic dissection:
- Computerized tomography scan. Also called a CT scan, a computerized tomography scan provides the doctor with clear images of your aorta and will allow him to detect any ripping or tearing.
- Magnetic Resonance Angiogram. Like an MRI, an MRA is used to detect problems in blood vessels.
- Ultrasound. An easy bedside test, an ultrasound could quickly identify an aortic dissection before too much time is wasted on tests for heart attack.
- Examination. A possible symptom of an aortic dissection is a pulse that is weaker in one arm than the other. This can be determined with a physical exam.
Don’t Let a Negligent Doctor Harm You
Misdiagnoses are not only dangerous to your health, but are often catastrophic to your wallet. Unnecessary tests and treatments add up and waste time that could be used to make you better. The attorneys of Tavss Fletcher want to help you get the compensation you deserve when you become the victim of medical malpractice.
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