Seizure and Bilateral External Jugular Vein Distention: A Rare Manifestation of Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection.

Abstract

Seizure as a sole sign of Stanford Type A aortic dissection (AAD) is mentioned in the medical literature. In this case, AAD was manifested by external bilateral jugular vein distention and generalized seizure. A 47-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with convulsions in the upper and lower extremities. She was diagnosed with AAD and transferred to a hospital with cardio-thoracic capabilities for surgery. Seizure resulting from aortic dissection has been explained by general cerebral hypoperfusion. However, jugular vein distention could be secondary to increased thoracic pressure, due to compression of the pulmonary artery by the ascending aorta. To our knowledge, this is the first report of generalized seizure with the presence of bilateral jugular vein dilatation as a sign of aortic dissection.Medical staff should be aware of this unusual presentation.