Is aortic dissection and acute coronary syndrome?

Although type A aortic dissection is a catastrophic condition with high mortality and requires prompt surgical treatment but in some cases it may be misdiagnosed as acute coronary syndrome. Sometimes against its high mortality when left untreated, patients survive and are diagnosed later in life incidentally.

What is acute aortic dissection?

An aortic dissection is a serious condition in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body’s main artery (aorta). Blood rushes through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split (dissect). If the blood goes through the outside aortic wall, aortic dissection is often deadly.

What causes acute aortic syndrome?

Marfan’s syndrome, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, annuloaortic ectasia, bicuspid aortic valve, and familial aortic dissection are genetic conditions that often cause acute aortic syndromes.

How can you tell the difference between aortic dissection and myocardial infarction?

The pain of aortic dissection is typically distinguished from the pain of acute myocardial infarction by its abrupt onset, though the presentations of the two conditions overlap to some degree and are easily confused.

Is troponin elevated in aortic dissection?

Conclusions: Cardiac troponin I elevation is frequent in patients with type A aortic dissection. It might reflect a higher haemodynamic stress but does not necessarily reflect a negative prognosis.

How do you diagnose an aortic dissection?

Tests to diagnose aortic dissection include:

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). This test uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart in motion.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest. X-ray are used to produce cross-sectional images of the body.
Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA).

What is the most common cause of an aortic dissection?

Aortic dissection most often happens because of a tear or damage to the inner wall of the aorta. This very often occurs in the chest (thoracic) part of the artery, but it may also occur in the abdominal aorta. When a tear occurs, it creates 2 channels: One in which blood continues to travel.

How long can you live with an aortic dissection?

Short-term and long-term survival rates after acute type A aortic dissection (TA-AAD) are unknown. Previous studies have reported survival rates between 52% and 94% at 1 year and between 45% and 88% at 5 years.

Can ECG detect aortic dissection?

In acute thoracic aortic dissection, the ECG changes can mimic those seen in acute cardiac ischemia. In the presence of chest pain, these signs can make distinguishing dissection from acute myocardial infarction very difficult (see the image below).

Is D dimer elevated in aortic dissection?

Abstract. Background— D-dimer has been reported to be elevated in acute aortic dissection. Potential use as a “rule-out” marker has been suggested, but concerns remain given that it is elevated in other acute chest diseases, including pulmonary embolism and ischemic heart disease.

What is type A dissection?

Abstract. Type A aortic dissection is a surgical emergency occurring when an intimal tear in the aorta creates a false lumen in the ascending aorta. Prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment are imperative to optimize outcomes.

What is life expectancy after aortic dissection surgery?

Although specific information about overall life expectancy after aortic dissection repair is not available, a recent study from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection reported that about 85% of patients who have undergone successful repair of acute dissection involving the ascending aorta remain alive …