ABSTRACT
Purpose: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a highly fatal disorder if not promptly diagnosed. Some international studies have suggested that serum d-dimer levels may be used to exclude AAD, but data are limited. We sought to confirm that d-dimer levels are elevated in American patients with AAD. Additionally, we sought to estimate the test characteristics of the d-dimer for AAD. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients in the Hospital Corporation of America database who arrived at the hospital between 2015 and 2019. We queried the database to find patients who had a diagnosis of AAD or (nonspecific) chest pain, and who also had a d-dimer performed within 24 hours of arrival at the hospital. The median d-dimer was compared in those diagnosed with AAD versus chest pain. We estimated the test characteristics of d-dimer for AAD at the standard cutoff value of 500 ng/mL. Results: In total, 48,902 patients met the criteria for analysis, including 572 with AAD and 48,330 with chest pain. The median d-dimers were 2455 ng/mL and 385 ng/mL for the AAD and chest pain groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Using a cutoff of 500 ng/mL, the sensitivity of the d-dimer was 91.1% and the specificity was 71.4%. Conclusion: Serum d-dimer values are higher in patients with AAD than in those with nonspecific chest pain. At the standard cutoff of 500 ng/mL, the serum d-dimer has a high sensitivity for AAD, but not high enough that d-dimer levels alone can be used in isolation to exclude AAD.
ABSTRACT
Molar pregnancies are rare complications that can have potentially devastating effects, including neoplastic disease. Given the potential for malignant conversion, proper diagnosis of molar pregnancy is crucial. This case demonstrates the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for molar pregnancy in the emergency department (ED). The patient was a 43-year-old G8P1, 8-week-pregnant female who presented to the emergency department for evaluation of abdominal pain. Her physical exam was notable for abdominal tenderness and a normal pelvic exam. Evaluation included basic labs with a quantitative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ßhCG), urinalysis, and vaginal wet mount. Her results were unremarkable with the exception of elevated ßhCG to 83,000 mIU/mL. A transabdominal POCUS was performed which showed a heterogeneous mass with several anechoic areas, concerning for a molar pregnancy. Patient was seen by obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) and a transvaginal ultrasound showed similar findings. Dilation and evacuation were performed approximately 5 hours after initial diagnosis on POCUS. Use of POCUS was crucial for expedient diagnosis and appropriate treatment in this patient, highlighting the utility of POCUS for pregnant patients in the ED. Topics: Molar pregnancy, gestational trophoblastic disease, hydatidiform mole, point of care ultrasound.
