Aortic Dissection Misdiagnosis Claims

Written by Tanya Waterworth, Digital Content Writer

About Our Legal Expert: This content is produced with oversight by Michael Jefferies, Managing Director who has over 30 years’ legal experience.

Delayed Diagnosis & Compensation in England & Wales

If you have suffered from a delayed diagnosis for aortic dissection resulting from substandard medical care, you may want to find out more on aortic dissection misdiagnosis claims. Aortic dissection is a medical emergency, yet it remains frequently misdiagnosed across hospitals and GP practices in England and Wales. Aortic dissection is when the inner layer of the aorta tears, forcing blood between the layers of the vessel wall. Without rapid recognition and treatment, the condition can escalate within minutes. Because early symptoms often resemble far more common illnesses, many patients experience delays in diagnosis that may lead to avoidable harm. So, if poor medical care was the reason behind the delay, individuals and families may be entitled to pursue an aortic dissection compensation claim.

Why Aortic Dissection Is So Commonly Misdiagnosed

Aortic dissection is not common, but 33% of those suffering from aortic dissection are misdiagnosed according to the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.  Patients can often present symptoms that emergency clinicians see every day, such as chest pain, back pain, abdominal pain, or collapse. Therefore, because the condition is not always considered early, opportunities for vital intervention may be missed.

The challenge lies in the overlap between aortic dissection symptoms and those of more common conditions. The true cause can remain undetected until it is too late. In many cases, the patient may deteriorate rapidly while being treated for the wrong condition.

Most Common Aortic Dissection Misdiagnoses

Search data and clinical reviews consistently show that aortic dissection is mistaken for several high‑frequency conditions. These may include:

1. Heart Attack

Chest pain is the hallmark symptom of both aortic dissection and heart attacks. Because heart attacks are far more common, clinicians often prioritise ruling them out first. If ECGs and blood tests appear normal, some clinicians may assume the pain is non‑cardiac and fail to consider dissection. This can delay the CT angiography scan needed for diagnosis.

2. Pulmonary Embolism

Shortness of breath, chest pain, and collapse can lead clinicians to suspect a pulmonary embolism. While both conditions require urgent imaging, the type of scan differs. Ordering the wrong scan or delaying imaging altogether can result in a missed diagnosis of aortic dissection.

3. Musculoskeletal Pain

Younger patients or those without obvious cardiovascular risk factors are sometimes told their pain is muscular. This is a common misdiagnosis in cases where the pain is located in the back or chest wall. Discharging a patient with a diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain without ruling out more serious causes can lead to a serious outcome.

4. Gastrointestinal Conditions

Aortic dissection can cause abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. These symptoms may be mistaken for gallstones, pancreatitis, or gastric issues. When clinicians focus on the gastrointestinal system rather than the vascular system, the underlying cause can remain hidden.

5. Stroke

If the dissection disrupts blood flow to the brain, patients may present with neurological symptoms. In these cases, clinicians may diagnose a stroke without recognising that the root cause is aortic dissection. Treating the patient as a typical stroke case can worsen the dissection and delay essential surgical intervention.

Why These Misdiagnoses Occur

Aortic dissection misdiagnosis is rarely the result of a single mistake. Instead, it often arises from a combination of factors:

• Anchoring bias: Clinicians settle on an initial diagnosis and fail to reconsider it.
• Failure to recognise red‑flag symptoms: Sudden, severe chest or back pain should always raise suspicion.
• Inadequate history‑taking: The nature, onset, and radiation of pain are crucial diagnostic clues.
• Insufficient physical examination: Differences in blood pressure may indicate dissection.
• Delays in ordering CT angiography: This scan is essential for diagnosis, yet it may not be ordered promptly.
• Misinterpretation of imaging: Even when scans are performed, signs of dissection can be overlooked.

When these errors lead to delayed diagnosis, the consequences may be severe. Families often seek legal advice to understand whether the outcome could have been prevented.

When a Misdiagnosis Becomes Grounds for an Aortic Dissection Claim

Not every missed diagnosis amounts to negligence. Aortic dissection is difficult to diagnose, and even experienced clinicians can struggle to identify it. However, a claim may succeed when the care falls below the standard expected of a reasonably competent clinician.

Examples of potentially negligent care include:

• Failure to consider aortic dissection despite classic symptoms
• Failure to order appropriate imaging when red flags are present
• Misinterpreting CT or MRI scans that show signs of dissection
• Delays in transferring the patient to a specialist cardiothoracic centre
• Discharging a patient without ruling out life‑threatening causes of chest or back pain

If these errors lead to avoidable harm, the patient or their family may be entitled to compensation.

How to Make an Aortic Dissection Compensation Claim

Bringing an aortic dissection claim in England and Wales involves several key stages. Because these cases are medically and legally complex, early specialist advice is essential.

1. Seek Specialist Legal Advice

Aortic dissection claims require detailed analysis of medical records, timelines, and expert evidence. We partner with solicitors experienced in aortic dissection negligence. They will assess whether the care provided may have fallen below an acceptable standard. Crucially, they will examine whether earlier diagnosis would have changed the outcome.

2. Gathering Medical Records

Your solicitor will obtain all relevant records, including:

• GP notes
• Emergency department records
• Imaging reports
• Ambulance logs
• Surgical notes
• Post‑mortem findings (in fatal cases)

These documents form the basis of the investigation.

3. Expert Medical Evidence

Independent experts, often emergency physicians, cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists, and vascular specialists, review the records to determine:

• Whether the care fell below a reasonable standard
• Whether earlier diagnosis or treatment would have prevented harm

Their opinions are central to establishing liability.

4. Establishing Causation

Even if the care was substandard, compensation is only awarded if the negligence caused avoidable harm. In aortic dissection cases, this means analysing whether earlier diagnosis would have allowed surgical intervention or prevented complications such as a stroke.

5. Calculating Compensation

Compensation typically covers:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of earnings
• Care needs
• Medical expenses
• Loss of dependency for families

The aim is to reflect the full impact of the negligence.

6. Settlement or Court Proceedings

Most aortic dissection claims settle without going to court. However, court proceedings may be necessary if liability is disputed. Your solicitor will guide you through each stage.

Time Limits for Aortic Dissection Claims

In England and Wales, the general time limit for bringing a clinical negligence claim is three years from:

• The date of the negligence, or
• The date you first realised negligence may have occurred

Because aortic dissection often leads to sudden and unexpected outcomes, families may not immediately realise that errors occurred. Early legal advice helps ensure the claim is brought within the required timeframe.

Next Steps

Aortic dissection requires recognition and decisive action. When clinicians fail to identify the warning signs or delay essential investigations, the consequences can be severe. Pursuing an aortic dissection compensation claim can help families obtain answers, secure financial support, and ensure lessons are learned to prevent future harm.

If you believe an aortic dissection was misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late and need help today, contact our team to arrange a no-obligation, free consultation.

This article provides general legal information and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. In all instances you should always consult with medical and legal  professionals.