"Directors, although we've run a complete blood count, biochemical tests, a cardiac enzyme panel, an EKG, and abdominal and cardiac ultrasounds, the results all appear normal. We haven't found any signs of an aortic dissection aneurysm..."
"But, look at this plasma D-dimer level..."
The directors from Gastroenterology and the Emergency Department were drawing a blank as they looked at the coagulation marker Wu Ting was pointing out.
Director Liu from Emergency Cardiac Surgery was suddenly alarmed. He had actually overlooked this obscure marker.
"It's not a mainstream indicator, but there have been studies showing that D-dimer is a degradation product of fibrin. Its level of elevation is positively correlated with the extent of the aortic dissection and negatively correlated with the duration of the condition..."
Now that he had a direction, Director Liu's experience and skill immediately allowed him to formulate a plan for further examination.
