An atypical presentation of chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection during pregnancy

Aortic Dissection and Hypotension Without Cardiac Tamponade: A Case Report

Ascending aortic dissection is typically characterized by severe chest or back pain. However, its presentation can be atypical, leading to diagnostic challenges, especially in settings where classic symptomatology may not be evident. In this report, we described the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented to the emergency room of a rural community hospital with chief complaints of vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, without the classic symptoms of chest or back pain associated with aortic dissection. Despite initial treatment for autonomic dysregulation, the patient's symptoms persisted. Subsequent comprehensive assessments, including computed tomography angiography, revealed an ascending aortic dissection extending to the bilateral common carotid arteries. This atypical presentation, characterized by cerebral hypoperfusion and systemic hypotension without tachycardia, emphasizes the need to maintain a high suspicion index, even in the absence of hallmark symptoms. This case underscores the importance of considering the possibility of ascending aortic dissection in patients with nontraditional symptoms. Recognizing these atypical presentations is crucial for timely intervention, especially in rural settings with limited advanced diagnostic tools. This case also highlights potential sex disparities in symptom presentation, emphasizing the need for clinicians to recognize nontraditional symptoms in women. Rapid identification, evaluation, and management are imperative to prevent severe outcomes, and a multidisciplinary approach has proven to be the most effective in such cases.

Usefulness of point-of-care ultrasound in the atypical presentation of aortic dissection: a case series and brief review of literature

Acute aortic dissection represents a surgical emergency that, in most cases, may present an atypical and non-specific clinic, making the diagnosis difficult and late. Computed tomography angiography represents the gold standard for diagnosis, but different ultrasound techniques are able to provide valuable additional information related to diagnosis, and optimize therapy and prognostic assessment. In this case series, we describe different atypical patterns of aortic dissection, associated to non-diagnostic D-Dimer levels. These atypical conditions escape recognized diagnostic algorithms for the diagnosis of aortic dissection, although the incidence of such events is far from negligible. A clinical approach in the emergency setting that provides for a systematic and standardized use of bedside ultrasound could help reduce the incidence of errors and diagnostic delay, addressing the gold standard instrumental diagnostics for the reference pathology.

Successful repair of acute type A aortic dissection during pregnancy at 16th gestational week with maternal and fetal survival: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Aortic dissection during pregnancy is a rare but life-threatening event for mothers and fetuses. It often occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Most patients have connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome. Thus, the successful repair of a sporadic aortic dissection with maternal and fetal survival in the early second trimester is extremely rare.

CASE SUMMARY

A 28-year-old woman without Marfan syndrome presented with chest pain at the 16^th gestational week. Aortic computed tomographic angiography confirmed an acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) with aortic arch and descending aorta involvement. Preoperative fetal ultrasound confirmed that the fetus was stable in the uterus. The patient underwent total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk using moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest with the fetus in situ. The patient recovered uneventfully and continued to be pregnant after discharge. At the 38^th gestational week, she delivered a healthy female infant by cesarean section. After 2.5 years of follow-up, the patient is uneventful and the child’s development is normal.

CONCLUSION

A fetus in the second trimester may have a high possibility of survival and healthy growth after aortic arch surgery.