Aortic emergencies.

Aortic emergencies present a diagnostic and treatment challenge for emergency physicians. Both acute aortic dissection and abdominal aortic aneurysms can be difficult to recognize, and a missed or delayed diagnosis may be fatal. A high clinical suspicion and rapid patient evaluation are important. Although many patients ultimately require surgical intervention, early and aggressive attention to hemodynamic stability by the emergency physician can provide a window to definitive treatment. Copyright Â