ABSTRACT
Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition that is challenging and difficult to recognize since symptoms may mimic other time-dependent conditions like acute coronary syndrome, acute pulmonary embolism or abdominal conditions. We here describe the case of a middle-aged male with thoraco-abdominal pain, positive ECG and troponin tests that demonstrated a large type A aortic dissection at echocardiography done as part of the acute coronary syndrome work-up. This case report reminds clinicians that acute aortic dissection, although rare, should be considered as a differential diagnosis in the work-up of acute coronary syndrome to avoid critical pitfalls, and echocardiography is crucial to rule out it.
Subject(s)
Acute Coronary Syndrome , Aortic Dissection , Pulmonary Embolism , Acute Coronary Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Acute Disease , Aortic Dissection/diagnostic imaging , Echocardiography , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Left atrial dissection is a rare entity mostly associated with mitral valve surgery and revealed in early post-operative period. This case report discusses a case of left atrial dissection associated with dislocation of the mechanical mitral prosthesis in the left atrium, which was peculiar in its anatomy and pathophysiology, occurred 12 years after surgery. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).