ABSTRACT
Acute aortic dissection presenting neurological symptoms is rare and entails significant diagnostic challenges. We present a case of 45-year-old woman with a medical history of essential hypertension and smoking, admitted with lobar pneumonia. During her inpatient treatment, she developed severe back pain and numbness below the level of the umbilicus. Due to her presenting symptoms considered differential diagnoses were paravertebral abscess and acute stroke. CT scan of the head did not reveal any ischaemic changes. Further investigation with MRI (with and without contrast) raised concerns for possible aortic dissection. CT angiography of thorax, abdomen and pelvis displayed extensive aortic dissection extending from aortic root to left iliac artery limiting flow to right carotid artery causing stenosis. The patient was diagnosed with Stanford type A aortic dissection. The patient was referred to the cardiothoracic surgery team for surgical repair. The patient made a good recovery after a prolonged course of hospitalisation, followed by cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Subject(s)
Aortic Dissection/complications , Aortic Dissection/surgery , Paraplegia/etiology , Acute Disease , Aortic Dissection/classification , Aortic Dissection/pathology , Aorta/diagnostic imaging , Aorta/pathology , Carotid Arteries/pathology , Computed Tomography Angiography/methods , Constriction, Pathologic , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Iliac Artery/diagnostic imaging , Iliac Artery/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Middle Aged , Paraplegia/physiopathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: It has been postulated that children with Hirschsprung disease (HD) and mucosal eosinophilia have been thought to have poorer outcome, but supporting evidence is lacking. The objective of our study was to review the outcomes of children with HD and mucosal eosinophilia. METHODS: A single center, retrospective review was conducted on all patients diagnosed with HD between 1999 and 2016. Pathology specimens were evaluated for mucosal eosinophilia. Demographics, complications, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were diagnosed with HD and 27 had mucosal eosinophilia. Median age at the time of surgery was 12 days (8, 30) and 82 were males. Comparing patients with HD with and without mucosal eosinophilia, there was no statistically significant difference in time to bowel function (2 days vs. 2 days; p = 0.85), time to start feeds (3 days vs. 3 days; p = 0.78) and time to goal feeds (5 days vs. 5 days; p = 0.47). There was no statistically significant difference in feeding issues (13% vs. 9%; p = 1.0) and stooling issues (60% vs. 50%; p = 0.38). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications and readmissions rates (63% vs. 56%; p = 0.53). CONCLUSION: Hirschsprung-associated mucosal eosinophilia may not increase postoperative complications, and may not change feeding and bowel management. Further prospective studies are in process to evaluate long term follow-up outcomes for this patient population.
