As Grant Wahl's family has correctly said, there was almost nothing anyone could have done to save him. I know they're right because I've seen so many of these cases. Here's why they are so difficult.
Aortic Dissection diagnosis can be missed when symptoms are transient or vague e.g., Jonathan Larson, the playwright of RENT, was discharged from several NYC EDs and died at home. Aortic Dissection can present with a TIA. I recall a patient whose only sign after a 10-minute episode of focal weakness consistent with a TIA was a difference in BPs in his arms. A high index of suspicion is often needed to diagnose these situations.
Also, of interest, John Ritter died of a dissection. He was admitted to the hospital and initially diagnosed with an MI, I believe but subsequently was correctly diagnosed with a dissection. His family sued the hospital, asserting the delay significantly reduced his chances for survival. I don't know the details, but the family lost the lawsuit probably because testimony established the physicians met the standard of care, and the delay did not affect the outcome.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving my daughter’s half brother, a 56 year old marathon biker, father of two daughters in college, had chest pain. He didn’t make it through surgery for an aortic dissection. What a nightmare.
Yes, it is. I have a friend who had transient severe chest pain and was taken to the nearest hospital. I spoke with his primary care physician, who was not affiliated with the hospital but talked to the cardiologist, who said there was nothing wrong with him. I asked if that was the case, what caused the chest pain. To make a long story short, we sent him for diagnostic testing at a hospital with experience in diagnostic testing, and he had successful surgery for an aortic dissection. One of the points is not to be satisfied when there is not an adequate working diagnosis for a problem that includes possible life-threatening implications.
Aortic Dissection diagnosis can be missed when symptoms are transient or vague e.g., Jonathan Larson, the playwright of RENT, was discharged from several NYC EDs and died at home. Aortic Dissection can present with a TIA. I recall a patient whose only sign after a 10-minute episode of focal weakness consistent with a TIA was a difference in BPs in his arms. A high index of suspicion is often needed to diagnose these situations.
Yes I’ve reviewed cases where the whole thing just seemed like a stroke and was treated as such. Very deadly situation.
Also, of interest, John Ritter died of a dissection. He was admitted to the hospital and initially diagnosed with an MI, I believe but subsequently was correctly diagnosed with a dissection. His family sued the hospital, asserting the delay significantly reduced his chances for survival. I don't know the details, but the family lost the lawsuit probably because testimony established the physicians met the standard of care, and the delay did not affect the outcome.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving my daughter’s half brother, a 56 year old marathon biker, father of two daughters in college, had chest pain. He didn’t make it through surgery for an aortic dissection. What a nightmare.
Yes, it is. I have a friend who had transient severe chest pain and was taken to the nearest hospital. I spoke with his primary care physician, who was not affiliated with the hospital but talked to the cardiologist, who said there was nothing wrong with him. I asked if that was the case, what caused the chest pain. To make a long story short, we sent him for diagnostic testing at a hospital with experience in diagnostic testing, and he had successful surgery for an aortic dissection. One of the points is not to be satisfied when there is not an adequate working diagnosis for a problem that includes possible life-threatening implications.
That takes my breath away and brings tears. This is what real medical practice should always be.