Abstract 13504: Timely Recognition and Successful Clinical Outcome of an Acute Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection

Abstract

Background: Acute Aortic dissection is a critical etiology of chest pain with very high mortality. 1% to 2% of patients die per hour during the initial 24 to 48 hours. Case: A 62 year old lady with history of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, smoking and no pertinent family history presented with atypical chest pain. She remained hemodynamically stable with no discrepancy of BP between arms. Labs: troponin 0.64, 0.63 ng/ml. EKG: sinus bradycardia. Chest x-ray: no mediastinal widening or signs of aortic aneurysm. Coronary angiogram showed 20-30 % stenosis in left anterior descending and right coronary arteries. An aortogram showed dilated aortic root over 6 cm with aortic regurgitation. Decision-making: An emergent echocardiogram confirmed acute aortic regurgitation and dissection. CT angiogram showed DeBakey type I aortic dissection extending from aortic annulus to infra renal aorta, supra aortic great vessels, celiac axis and left renal artery. She had no signs of malperfusion syndrome. She was started on iv Esmolol and emergently airlifted to tertiary care facility for surgical repair. Intra operative TEE showed findings consistent with acute aortic dissection. She had successful modified Bentall procedure with replacement of aortic valve, aortic root, ascending aorta and hemi arch. She had excellent recovery and continues to do well at follow up visits in our clinic. Conclusion: An early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection requires high index of suspicion due to variable symptoms and clinical manifestations. DeBakey type I aortic dissection may have better chance of survival in the absence of malperfusion syndrome if treated early as in this case.