Acute Aortic Syndrome in the NHS. A survey reveals gaps in policy and education (September 2023)

Summary

A survey, carried out by The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust, assessed how Acute Aortic Syndrome is managed across NHS trusts in Great Britain, revealing some significant areas for improvement.

The survey showed that the majority of NHS trusts have established policies for managing patients with chest pain, a common symptom of AAS. This demonstrates a good degree of preparedness in identifying and treating cardiovascular issues.

However, the survey also found that only about half of the trusts have dedicated teaching on AAS for emergency department staff. Furthermore, there’s a lack of uniform policy for the recognition and treatment of AAS specifically. This absence of standardised guidelines and insufficient educational focus could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, potentially affecting patient outcomes.

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