Symptoms of Aortic Dissection Following a Car Accident
Posted Friday, July 31, 2020 by Chris Thayer
Many victims are saved through the use of seat belts and airbags within their vehicles when they are involved in serious car accidents. Unfortunately, there are circumstances in which these life-saving devices actually can cause a severe injury to the victim. When a seat belt or airbag places a great deal of pressure on the victim’s chest, it may cause damage to the heart, resulting in aortic dissection. Learn more about this life-threatening medical condition and understand the signs in order to receive proper medical treatment.
*Aortic Dissection*The heart has a large artery that is called the aorta and rises from the lower left chamber of the heart. The top of this artery turns and bends and then moves downward. The area at the top that bends (called the isthmus) is much weaker than the rest of the aorta. When it suffers any kind of serious impact or extreme pressure, it can rupture or completely tear. If a tear occurs in the inner lawyer, the aorta will bleed into the middle layer, thus separating the layers. This is called an aortic dissection.
*Consequences of Aortic Dissection *An aortic dissection is a medical emergency that may ultimately be life-threatening. Aortic dissections may lead to organ failure, damage to the lining of the heart, stroke, or death. When damage occurs to the aorta, it can stop the blood flow to organs such as the kidneys, brain, legs or intestines and lead to a heart attack, brain damage, organ failure, bowel infarctions, kidney failure, liver failure, dead intestines, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, gangrene, or death.
*Symptoms of Aortic Dissection After a Car Accident *Many symptoms that a victim of an aortic dissection experience appear to be similar to those of a heart attack. Some victims feel an intense pressure in the chest area. This could be a strong pressure or a stabbing, sharp pain. In other cases, the pain is so severe that it feels like someone is actually ripping or tearing their chest. This pain may radiate to the back or the shoulder blade area. In some cases, the pain may be felt in the jaw area, abdomen, hips, shoulder, or neck.
*Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Today *If you believe that you may be experiencing an aortic dissection following a car accident, or someone you love explains that they have symptoms described above, you should seek emergency medical treatment as quickly as possible. Never take for granted that you have additional time if you begin to feel these symptoms, or if someone you love describes these symptoms following a car accident. If you were in a car accident and suffered injuries or losses, including aortic dissection, due to someone else’s negligence, contact Pivotal Law Group at 206-340-2008 and consult with one of our experienced attorneys. We proudly serve the Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, and Issaquah areas.