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Case Reports
. 2020 Feb 13;12(2):e6986.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.6986.

Two Intriguing Cases of Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection

Taha Ahmed  1 , Raunak Nair  2 , Hassan Lak  2 , Samra Haroon Lodhi  3 , Anjli Maroo  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Two Intriguing Cases of Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection

Taha Ahmed et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Stanford type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening illness that presents with chest pain and hemodynamic instability. Prompt and accurate evaluation and management are critical for survival as it is a cardiac surgical emergency. We aim to highlight the physicians about this potentially fatal condition, by reporting two cases of Stanford type A AAD, with atypical presentations that were initially misdiagnosed.

Keywords: acute aortic dissection; aortogram; pericardial effusion; pericardiocentesis; transthoracic echocardiogram.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Electrocardiogram on presentation showing ST elevations in leads II, III, aVF, V4-6 with reciprocal ST depressions in leads I and aVL
Figure 2
Figure 2. Left heart catheterization with normal left-sided coronary circulation and approximately 70% stenosis of the posterolateral branch of the right coronary artery
Figure 3
Figure 3. Aortogram revealing true and false lumens of the ascending aorta with an intimal flap intermittently compressing the ostia of the right coronary artery
Figure 4
Figure 4. Transthoracic echocardiogram showing circumferential pericardial effusion
Figure 5
Figure 5. CT chest without contrast showed a large hemorrhagic appearing pericardial effusion and aneurysmal ectasia of the ascending aorta
Figure 6
Figure 6. Transesophageal echocardiogram showing Stanford type A acute aortic dissection with true and false lumens
Figure 7
Figure 7. CT angiogram revealing Stanford type A AAD originating from the ascending and extending down the descending aorta
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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