Extensive Intestinal Ischemia After Acute Aortic Dissection

Abstract

Aortic dissection is one of the leading life threatening cardiovascular emergencies. In this clinical entity, following the intimal tear, blood forms a channel splitting the inner and outer sheets of the medial layer. Pushing forward through the medial layer, the blood detaches the intimae from the adventitial layer. There can be complications such as rupture, obstruction and occlusion of certain aortic branches. It is well known that acute aortic dissection (AAD) leading to intestinal ischemia is difficult to manage and having high mortality rates. It is worrisome that a lot of sufferers with atypical or insignificant clinical signs can't have the chance for early diagnose and treatment. By the time intestinal necrosis progresses and manifest physical signs become apparent, usually multiple organ failure occurs and the cases surviving need extensive intestinal resections with high mortality and morbidity. Here we report a case of acute aortic dissection with extensive intestinal ischemia, in order to point out the importance of this clinical entity.