Acute aortic syndromes is an umbrella term that includes; acute aortic dissection, intramural haematoma and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. What pathophysiology links all three of these acute syndromes together

The aorta can be divided into the thoracic and abdominal segments. The location of the aortic syndrome in relation to which anatomical structure defines whether it is thoracic or abdominal

Which of the acute aortic syndromes is the most common, accounting for 70-80% of all cases

Which sex is most at risk of developing an acute aortic dissection

What clinical feature was most common within the presentation of acute aortic dissection patients when presenting to the emergency department

What characteristic of pain should be concerning when assessing a patient for a possible acute aortic dissection

There are many risk factors that can predispose patients to experiencing or developing acute aortic syndromes. One of these is connective tissue disorders such as Marfans or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Which of the following are others

Which imaging modality is preferred for the diagnosis of an acute aortic syndrome

Both computerised topography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities can be used to assess for the presence of an aortic dissection with a high degree of accuracy. Why is CT the preferred method within an emergency department

Aortic dissection can be classified into either type A or type B. What is the definition of a type A dissection

Aortic dissections classified as a type B are surgical emergencies and must always be manages with an open surgical approach, true or false

When a dissection of the aorta has been confirmed, the patient must have their blood pressure monitored and actively lowered if their systolic pressure exceeds what value

Pain is always constant throughout the presence of an acute aortic dissection

Within the physical assessment, how prevalent is the presence of differing pulse pressures or blood pressure changes on L/R arms

In an out-of-hospital setting, it is easy to confirm or deny the presence of an acute aortic syndrome