A patient with sudden onset of tearing chest pain and absent radial pulse on the right arm is likely experiencing which condition?

The presentation of sudden onset tearing chest pain accompanied by an absent radial pulse on one side of the body is strongly indicative of an aortic dissection. This condition occurs when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, which can lead to blood flowing between the layers of the vessel wall, creating a false lumen. The characteristic tearing pain often radiates to the back and is typically severe.

In cases of aortic dissection, the interruptions in blood flow can result in diminished or absent pulses in the extremities that are supplied by arteries branching off from the affected portion of the aorta. The absent radial pulse on the right arm suggests that the dissection may have compromised the right subclavian artery or other arterial branches, explaining the lack of blood flow to that region.

Understanding this condition is vital, as aortic dissection is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Other conditions may present with chest pain but would not typically cause the combination of symptoms described here. For instance, while myocardial infarction involves severe chest pain, it typically does not produce a sudden onset of tearing pain or an absent pulse in this manner.