Are neurological symptoms in Type A aortic dissections associated with increased mortality?
Neurological findings in elderly hypertensive patients with asymmetrical pulses or murmurs should raise suspicion for aortic dissection, especially before administering thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke.
Aortic dissections might be missed in patients with neurological symptoms but without pain. Neurological findings in elderly hypertensive patients with asymmetrical pulses or cardiac murmur suggest dissection. Especially in patients considered for thrombolytic therapy in acute stroke further diagnostics is essential. Neurological symptoms are not necessarily associated with increased mortality.
Gaul et al. (Fri,) studied this question.