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Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm masquerading as isolated hip pain: an unusual presentation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Sriram Vaidyanathan ,
Himanshu Wadhawan ,
Pedro Welch  and
Murad El-Salamani
Sriram Vaidyanathan*
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Nottinghamshire, UK
Himanshu Wadhawan
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Nottinghamshire, UK
Pedro Welch
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Nottinghamshire, UK
Murad El-Salamani
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Nottinghamshire, UK
*
32 Wicklow Rd., Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN2 5LA, UK; srivaidyanathan@gmail.com

Abstract

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The rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a catastrophic event. Misdiagnosis by first-contact emergency physicians remains a serious concern. Varied and frequently nonspecific presentations lead to erroneous diagnostic impressions and cause significant delays in definitive intervention. We report the case of a 73-year-old man with a ruptured AAA presenting with isolated acute right hip pain without any classical features such as truncal pain or hypotension. Despite major advances in imaging and definitive treatment, a heightened awareness among emergency physicians remains the only effective means of improving detection and thereby survival.

Keywords

ruptured abdominal aoritc aneurysmdiagnosiscomputerized tomogrpahy scanacute hip pain
Type
Case Report • Rapport de cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 251 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2008

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