Acute Aortic Injury and Bilateral Pulmonary Emboli in the Setting of COVID-19.

In this report, we present the case of a 72-year-old female diagnosed with an aortic dissection variant and bilateral pulmonary emboli (PE) in the setting of Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The patient was transported from home to the emergency department (ED) via emergency medical services (EMS) with acute chest pain and dyspnea. After arriving at the ED, she was hypoxic on her baseline supplemental O2 requirement and tachycardic and tachypneic. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest showed evidence of possible thoracic aortic dissection and bilateral PE. The patient was ultimately transported to a tertiary center for operative aortic repair and bilateral embolectomy and, fortunately, survived the procedures. Interestingly, during operative repair of the aorta, no obvious dissection flap was noted, but rather evidence of a limited tear in the intimal layer of the aorta. This is an interesting case as acute aortic injuries in the setting of COVID-19 infection have not been as widely documented as PE in the setting of COVID and highlight the need for further research on the possible association between them.

Aortic wrapping is life-saving in high-risk acute aortic dissection and intramural haematoma.

Aortic wrapping is a controversial repair in patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection or intramural haematoma, but this method may be a potential alternative to medical treatment or conventional repair in patients aged >80 years and in those presenting with prohibitive co-morbidities such as stroke, circulatory collapse, full oral anticoagulation with the last generation drugs. We report on 5 high-risk and/or patients over 80 years who received external aortic wrapping with or without cardiopulmonary bypass during the last 18 months. All survived the procedure and could be extubated early postoperatively. No patient remained on the intensive care longer than 2 days and all were discharged without additional complications. Postoperative radiological control was acceptable and no patient had any new aortic event up to 18 months postoperatively.

Covid-19 Vaccine Associated Acute Myocarditis

Case Presentation: A 19 year old male presented with sudden onset chest pain radiating to back. He was a smoker and denied using cocaine since his last hospitalization for cocaine-induced myocardial infarction 2 years ago. UDS was negative. EKG showed normal sinus rhythm with no ST-T wave changes. Initial troponin was 0.850. Potassium levels were low at 2.9 mmol/L but other labs were normal. Chest CT angiography ruled out aortic dissection. He was started on heparin drip. Stat Echocardiogram showed LVEF of 55-60% with no wall motion abnormalities. Repeat potassium levels normalized after replacement, however, his troponins were trending up from 3.9 and 11.5. He continued to complain of severe chest pain, so underwent cardiac catheterization which showed normal coronary arteries and LVEF 55-60%. Heparin drip was discontinued and NSAIDs and colchicine were started. Cardiac MRI (see Figure) was done that showed patchy mid-wall and epicardial delayed gadolinium enhancement involving the basal inferolateral wall, with mild hyperintense signal on the triple IR sequence, suggestive of myocarditis. On further probing, he reported receiving a second dose of Moderna COVID vaccine 3 days prior to presentation. Discussion(s): In December 2019, a novel RNA virus causing COVID-19 infection was reported, which quickly reached a pandemic level. COVID-19 vaccines were granted emergency use authorization by FDA. With millions of people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations worldwide, rare adverse effects are now being reported. The benefits of vaccination undoubtedly outweigh any minor side effects. However major adverse effects like this are potentially fatal. This case report warrants further investigation into the association of myocarditis with COVID-19 vaccinations and further recommendations regarding vaccination in younger adults.

Acute Lung Injury in aortic dissection : new insights in anesthetic management strategies.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a severe cardiovascular disease characterized by rapid progress and a high mortality rate. The incidence of acute aortic dissection is approximately 5 to 30 per 1 million people worldwide. In clinical practice, about 35% of AAD patients are complicated with acute lung injury (ALI). AAD complicated with ALI can seriously affect patients' prognosis and even increase mortality. However, the pathogenesis of AAD combined with ALI remains largely unknown. Given the public health burden of AAD combined with ALI, we reviewed the anesthetic management advances and highlighted potential areas for clinical practice.

Migration despite stabilization of an embolized transcatheter heart valve: A word of caution.

This case report describes an initially stabilized transcatheter heart valve that embolized in the ascending aorta, leading to a postprocedural acute type A aortic dissection.

Aortic Dissection and COVID-19 Pneumonia in a Pregnant Woman at 34 Weeks of Gestation.

Between 0.1% and 0.3% of all aortic dissections occur during pregnancy. Arterial hypertension, connective tissue disorders, and congenital cardiovascular anomalies-including bicuspid aortic valves-are well-known risk factors. The causality between pregnancy and aortic dissection is unclear, but there have been some observations that COVID-19 illness may increase the risk. This report describes a pregnant woman at 34 weeks of gestation who had a bicuspid aortic valve and experienced an acute aortic dissection while ill with COVID-19 pneumonia. Computed tomography confirmed a type A aortic dissection and bilateral patchy pulmonary opacities. Cesarean delivery was performed, followed by replacement of the aortic valve with a mechanical aortic prosthesis and reconstruction of the ascending aorta and hemiarch. The intraoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation after 51 hours. COVID-19 during pregnancy seems to increase the risk for aortic dissection, although there is no evidence base for an association. Because guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in such complex cases are lacking, care from a multidisciplinary team is crucial for successful outcomes.

A systematic review of arterial dissections in COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 is often seen presenting with a myriad of signs and symptoms of multiorgan dysfunction including arterial dissection. Various theories have been proposed such as endothelial dysfunction triggered by hyper-inflammatory response that results in rupture of atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent dissection. However, the exact incidence is unknown and only case reports and case series have been published till date. Here we carried out a systematic analysis of published case reports/series related to dissection of the aorta, coronary, cerebral, vertebral, cervical, renal, and splanchnic arteries.

Anbar 2nd International Medical Conference, AIMCO 2022

The proceedings contain 24 papers. The topics discussed include: a newly synthetic compound of ibuprofen and gabapentin as a novel analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent: a pharmacological study in rats' experimental models;acute aortic dissection: clinical characteristics and outcomes;assessment of diagnostic procedures and tools of COVID-19 among Iraqi patients: a systematic review;association between alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and helicobacter pylori infection in Iraqi patients submitted to gastrointestinal endoscopy;association of white blood cell counts, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, troponin, and ferritin with mortality in severe COVID-19;bilateral intratonsillar abscesses: a first case report in an adult patient;and disaster medicine curricula in Saudi Arabian medical schools.

Anesthetic implications for transurethral resection of prostate in a COVID-19 survivor with Stanford-A aortic dissection with acute urinary retention due to metastatic carcinoma prostate: a case report

Background: Aortic dissection is a new addition to the long COVID-19 complication catalog. We report this rare and novel complication, which can be missed without a high index of suspicion in the ever-burgeoning population of COVID-survivors presenting for un-related surgery. We emphasize the importance of recording blood pressure in both the upper limbs in COVID-survivors during pre-anesthetic checkup, especially in patients with a dilated aorta on the chest radiograph to identify any interarm blood pressure discrepancy characteristic of aortic dissection. Discontinuation of antihypertensive based on low/normal blood pressure in left upper-limb can precipitate concealed and catastrophic rise in blood pressure in the right upper-limb propagating the dissection of aorta to a fatal conclusion. The cardinal anesthetic consideration is to mitigate the effect of hemodynamic perturbations on the dissected aorta. Case presentation: We report the successful management of the case of a 76-year-old male prostatic cancer patient with COVID-induced aortic-dissection and acute urinary retention, posted for transurethral resection of prostate. CT angiography revealed an intimal flap in the ascending aortic lumen and aortic arch till the origin of left subclavian artery resulting in a double-barreled aorta. An arterial line was secured in right radial artery and non-invasive blood pressure recorded in left arm simultaneously (202/60 mmHg in right upper-limb and 92/70 mmHg in the left upper-limb on wheeling into the operation theatre). He underwent transurethral prostatic resection and bilateral orchidectomy under low-dose subarachnoid block with prophylactic use of labetalol infusion. Conclusions: The importance of recording blood pressure in both the upper limbs in COVID survivors maintaining a high index of suspicion for aortic dissection cannot be overemphasized. Transurethral prostatic resection surgery under low-dose subarachnoid block is possible under the umbrella of judicious selection and optimal use of cardiac medication with an interventional cardiologist as standby in patients with aortic dissection.

Muscle Pain in a Patient with Recent Sars-Cov-2 Infection

INTRODUCTION: Thrombosis associated with SARSCoV-2 infection has been well established. Even patients with mild disease, who are able to treat their symptoms at home without supplemental oxygen, are prone to significant sequelae of the disease process. IVC filters, while once considered a standard treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), have fallen out of favor except when there are absolute contraindications for therapeutic anticoagulation due to increased risk of significant adverse events directly correlating with time in-situ including migration, thrombosis, and tears/dissection of the aorta or associated vessels. DESCRIPTION: A 45 y/o F with h/o insulin dependent DM2 and HTN presented for evaluation of bilateral leg cramps with subjective numbness and abdominal pain in the setting of recent COVID-19 infection treated at home. Her exam was notable for significant quadriceps tenderness and induration bilaterally with diminished distal pulses. Initial lab work was significant for lactic acidosis of 6.1, CK 110, and creatinine 2.2. She was admitted to ICU for oliguric AKI and vasopressor support. Broad autoimmune workup was negative. Her renal function continued to deteriorate eventually prompting kidney replacement therapy. Doppler US revealed bilateral DVT in the femoral and popliteal veins. Her CK was monitored daily given continued concern for rhabdomyolysis. CK was >20,000 by day five. Concern for congestive nephropathy prompted CT with contrast of abdomen, pelvis which showed extensive DVT throughout the visualized femoral and iliac veins, extending superiorly past an IVC filter to the inferior margin of the liver. At this time, the patient confirmed she had an IVC filter placed roughly eight years prior after an MVC. The patient underwent successful catheter-directed thrombolysis. Her symptoms slowly improved during her hospitalization which totaled 33 days. The patient was able to discontinue outpatient hemodialysis after 1.5 months. DISCUSSION: It is imperative to obtain complete history in patients with recent COVID as underlying predisposition for thrombosis can greatly increase their morbidity and mortality even with seemingly mild infection. The combination of two highly pro-thrombotic foci in this patient resulted in multisystem sequelae of large IVC and femoral vein thrombosis.

37th Turkish Cardiology Congress

The proceedings contain 160 papers. The topics discussed include: effects of anemia on TAVR outcomes;the impact of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation on mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation;comparison between PeRcutanEous and surgical femoral access for endovascular aortic repair in patients with type III aortic dissection (PRECLOSE trial);comparison of systemic immune-inflammation index levels in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia versus patients with obstructive coronary artery disease and normal coronary angiogram;recurrent acute coronary syndrome, how successful are we in risk modification and guideline recommendations?;characteristics of the patients with atrioventricular conduction block after ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and its clinical importance;let's not deprive the COVID-19 patient from percutaneous coronary intervention;and the association between invasive microvascular function and CMR-derived microvascular injury indicators and left ventricular function and infarct size at 1-month after reperfused STEMI.

Outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database.

PURPOSE: There have been reported reductions of hospital presentation for acute cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial infarction and acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined presentation patterns and outcomes of ATAAD in North America immediately before, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (STS ACSD) was queried to identify patients presenting with ATAAD in the 12 months pre-pandemic (March 2019-February 2020), and during the early pandemic (March through June 2020). Demographics and operative characteristics were compared using χ² test and Wilcoxon Rank-sum test. The median annual case volume designated low-volume centers versus high-volume centers (>10 cases per month). Step-wise variable selection was used to create a risk set used for adjustment of all multivariable models. RESULTS: There were 5480 patients identified: 4346 pre-pandemic and 1134 during pandemic. There was significantly lower volume of median cases per month during the COVID-19 pandemic period (286 interquartile range [IQR]: 256-306 vs. 372 IQR: 291-433,p = .0152). In historically low-volume centers (<10 cases per year), there was no difference in volume between the two periods (142 IQR: 133-166 vs. 177 IQR: 139-209, p = NS). In high-volume centers, there was a decline during the pandemic (140 IQR: 123-148 vs. 212 IQR: 148-224, p = .0052). There was no difference in overall hospital-to-hospital transfers during the two time periods (54% of cases pre-pandemic, 55% during). Patient demographics, operative characteristics, malperfusion rates, and cardiac risk factors were similar between the two time periods. There was no difference in unadjusted operative mortality (19.01% pre-pandemic vs. 18.83% during, p = .9) nor major morbidity (52.42% pre-pandemic vs. 51.24% during, p = .5). Risk-adjusted multivariable models showed no difference in either operative mortality nor major morbidity between time periods. CONCLUSIONS: For patients presenting to the hospital with ATAAD during the first surge of the pandemic, operative outcomes were similar to pre-pandemic despite a 30% reduction in volume. Out-of-hospital mortality from ATAAD during the pandemic remains unknown. Further understanding these findings will inform management of ATAAD during future pandemics.

Delayed Surgical Management of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection in a Patient with Recent COVID-19 Infection and Post-COVID-19 Bronchopneumonia-Case Report and Review of Literature.

Ever since it was first described in 1760, acute type A aortic dissection has created difficulties in its management. The recent COVID-19 pandemic revealed that extrapulmonary manifestations of this condition may occur, and recent reports suggested that aortic dissection may be amongst them since it shares a common physiopathology, that is, hyper-inflammatory syndrome. Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in the setting of COVID-19-positive patients carries a high risk of postoperative respiratory failure. While the vast majority accept that management of type A aortic dissection requires urgent surgery and central aortic therapy, there are some reports that advocate for delaying surgery. In this situation, the risk of aortic rupture must be balanced with the possible benefits of delaying urgent surgery. We present a case of acute type A dissection with COVID-19-associated bronchopneumonia successfully managed after delaying surgery for 6 days.

The new educational project Televascular Games during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic.

Objective: To report methodology and first-year results of a new educational project called Televascular Games," which took place during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: Complex aneurysmal aortic disease was discussed during a 2-hour competition webinar, according to three modalities. (1) Planning case competition (PCC): Two to four preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans of an already performed selected case were submitted for the competition. CTA scans were uploaded anonymously, without any reference to the center or the surgeon who performed the case. The competitor had to prepare a presentation of how he or she would have diagnosed, sized, planned, treated, and followed up the case, of the medical therapy and of the bail-out maneuvers. (2) Challenging case competition (CCC): The competitor elaborates a presentation of an already treated case concerning an aortic topic and discusses sizing, planning, treatment, possible bail-out maneuvers and obtained results. For the CCC and PCC, the competitors with the best score were preselected to present and discuss their plan during the webinars. (3) Quiz competition: Two to six CTA scans of already performed selected aortic cases were submitted for the competition. A quiz with multiple choice questions was answered by the competitors. The top four competitors were selected for the webinars and then they discussed the cases during the webinar. Finally, at the end of the case discussion, the effective case resolution and follow-up were shown. A final winner was voted via televoting, based on six preestablished criteria. The project was endorsed by different national and international societies. Results: Between October 2020 and December 2021, there were 12 Italian and 1 international webinars with 1695 participants overall (mean, 130; range, 86-177). Competitors were 54 years of age (mean, 27 years; range, 22-38 years). Two editions were CCCs, two quiz competitions, and nine PCCs. The reliability of the interobserver sizing of competitors was κ = 0.43 and κ = 0.62 for the proximal and distal sealing measurements respectively and very good (κ = 0.88-0.95) in the evaluation of orientation of the vessels, presence of angulations, calcifications, and thrombus. The sizing discrepancy resulted in a significant variability of the planning (κ = 0.45). The project ranked 9.6 on a 10-point rating scale by all the participants and competitors. Conclusions: The formula of gaming and collegial discussion of aortic cases herein reported has proved valid and attractive during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic period. The variability of the results on sizing and planning suggested to confer with a second opinion, especially for less experienced surgeons.

Type A aortic dissection and pheochromocytoma: an indirect consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Type A aortic dissection is a cardiovascular emergency. Its incidence seems to have increased in the last few years; it is not clear whether this is a consequence of the ageing population or better awareness of the diagnosis (Erbel R, Alfonso F, Boileau C, Dirsch O, Eber B, Haverich A et al.; Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology. Diagnosis and management of aortic dissection Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J 2001;15;22:1642-81). Acute type A aortic dissection is often lethal without urgent surgical treatment with mortality rates of around 17% (Conzelmann LO, Weigang E, Mehlhorn U, Abugameh A, Hoffmann I, Blettner M et al. Mortality in patients with acute aortic dissection type A: analysis of pre- and intraoperative risk factors from the German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA). Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2016;49:e44-e52). Pheochromocytomas are rare tumours, though often asymptomatic, they could be lethal if left untreated. The incidence is around 0.6 per 100,000 persons per year. The association of both aortic dissection and pheochromocytoma is rare. Here, we report a case of a 36-year-old patient with pheochromocytoma and hypertension, whose delay of surgery due to the Covid-19 pandemic led to acute type A aortic dissection.

Case Report: Effects of Sars-CoV-2 on Marfan syndrome with resulting acute aortic dissection.

Marfan syndrome is one of the most common inherited connective tissue disorders that affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels, and bones. It occurs in approximately 1-2 per 10,000 individuals annually. Many patients with Marfan syndrome eventually develop aortic wall abnormalities, often resulting in aortic dilatation, which increases the risk of acute aortic dissection. Recent studies involving SARS-CoV-2 propose that individuals with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome can have additional associated conditions that could impose a higher risk for morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2. The purpose of this article is to discuss the interrelationship between Marfan Syndrome, Acute Type A Aortic Dissection in a patient with Sars-CoV-2 infection. Pertinent review of these conditions, diagnostic findings, treatment, and the patient's clinical course will be discussed. There is minimal research focused on the connection between this novel virus, Marfan Syndrome, and compounding risk for aortic dissection.

A Case Report of Acute Aortic Dissection and Tamponade in a Patient with Novel Coronavirus

Novel COVID-19 has caused a deathful pandemic since 2019 with more than 2.5 million deaths reported around the world by February 2021. Although best known for its effects on respiratory system, it can be responsible for multiple organ damage. Cardiovascular complications are not uncommon meanwhile. However, some cardiac manifestations are also reported, namely: palpitations and chest pain. Acute myocarditis, acute heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias and thromboembolic events have been the most common cardiovascular complications reported. Meanwhile, more deaths occurred as a result of aortic dissection. Herein, we want to report a silent death in a patient with COVID-19. Copyright 2022, Journal of Iranian Medical Council. All rights reserved.