AMI vs. Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm

• onset of pain for AMI


  gradual, with additional symptoms
• quality of pain for AMI


  tightness/pressure
• severity of pain for AMI


  increases with time
• timing of pain for AMI


  may wax and wane
• radiation for AMI


  substernal; back is rarely involved
• clinical signs for AMI


  peripheral pulses equal
• onset of pain for dissecting aneurysm 


  abrupt, without additional symptoms
• quality of pain for dissecting aneurysm 


  sharp/tearing
• severity of pain for dissecting aneurysm 


  maximal from onset
• timing of pain for dissecting aneurysm 


  does not abate once it has started
• radiation for dissecting aneurysm 


  back possibly involved, between shoulder blades
• clinical signs for dissecting aneurysm 


  blood pressure discrepancy between arms or decrease in a femoral or carotid pulse
• AMI


  O: gradual, with additional symptoms

  Q: tightness/pressure

  S: increases with time

  T: may wax and wane

  R: substernal; back rarely involved

  C: peripheral pulses equal
• Dissecting aortic aneurysm


  O: abrupt, without additional symptoms

  Q: sharp/tearing

  S: maximal from onset

  T: does not abate once it has started

  R: back possibly involved, between the shoulder blades

  C: blood pressure discrepancy between arms or decrease in a femoral or carotid pulse