7. PATHOLOGY
55 to 65% of aortic intimal tears originate in the
ascending aorta within the sinotubular junction and
extend to involve remaining portions of the
thoracoabdominal aorta
20 to 30 percent of intimal tears will originate in the
vicinity of the left subclavian artery and extend into
the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal
aorta
Related to shear forces (dP/dT) being highest in
these regions
8. Aortic arch involvement is seen in up to 30 percent
Aortic intramural hematoma more commonly involves the descending aorta
Most penetrating aortic ulcers are located in the descending thoracic aorta (85 to
95 percent), but they can also occur in the ascending aorta or arch
13. Natural
history
Aortic dissection is a more common than abdominal aortic
2-4/100000
M:F=5:1
Type B patients are 10 years older than type A
Age : 60 and 70 years
HTN in 75%
Pain is the most common presenting symptom in 95% and sudden
14. Acute aortic dissection is highly lethal if not recognized and treated aggressively
20% die before reaching the hospital
Mortality for an untreated dissection is about 25% at 6 hours and 50% by 24
hours. Within 1 week, two thirds of patients die if untreated and 75% occur in the
first 2 weeks
Acute dissection <14 days
chronic dissections surviving more than 2 weeks
The rule of thumb has been a mortality of 1% per hour in the acute stage
2 independent risk factors most often identified :HTN and AGE
15. type A
treated medically have a mortality of 58%
mortality for surgical treatment of type A dissections is 26%
Immediately life-threatening problem than is type B
Die of pericardial tamponade, rupture, aortic valve dysfunction, or malperfusion of
the coronary arteries. Patients who present with syncope are more likely to have a
type A dissection than a type B; syncope is associated with cardiac tamponade,
stroke, and death
16. type B dissections
the mortality for is initially about 10% to 12% for patients who can be treated
medically
Surgical or endovascular therapy is indicated for complications including
progressive pain and dissection extension, rupture, and compromise of limb or
organ perfusion
Patients with such complications necessitating intervention have a higher mortality
of at least 30%
17. FROM ONSET OF PRESENTATION
Hyperacute: <24 hours
Acute: 1 to 14 days
Subacute: >14 to 90 days
Chronic: >90 days
18. PRESENTATION
Symptoms
acute onset of severe chest or back pain : 80 to 90% , severe, sharp, or "tearing" and is
located in the anterior chest pain for type A aortic dissection and in the posterior chest or
back pain for type B aortic dissection
Signs
Asymmetric limb pulses
shock, syncope, acute congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia, stroke, paraplegia,
extremity ischemia, mesenteric ischemia)
Aortic regurgitation
Pericardial effusion
Acute coronary syndrome
19.
20. Clinical
Triad
Abrupt onset of thoracic or
abdominal pain with a
sharp, tearing, and/or
ripping character
01
A variation in pulse
(absence of a proximal
extremity or carotid pulse)
and/or blood pressure (>20
mmHg difference between
the right and left arm)
02
Mediastinal and/or aortic
widening on chest
radiograph
03
22. DX HX CE ECG X-RAY Test Remark
Aortic
dissecti
on
Pain HTN
PULSELES
S
NORMAL WIDE
MEDIASTI
TROP-
DIMER+
CECT+
ACS PAIN CHF ACS PULM OE TROP+ ECHO+
PE PAIN RHF S1Q3T3 PAH DIMER+ DVT+
Tension
pneumo
thorax
SOB
PAIN
DIMINISH
ED BS
NORMAL PNEUMO CECT+
tampon
ade
SOB
SHOCK
BECK’S
TRIAD
ELECALT BOTTLE
HEART
CECT+
Mediasti
nitis
WIDE
MEDIA
CECT+
Oesoph
ageal
rupture
DYSPHAGIA
PAIN
Hamman's
crunch
NORMAL CECT+
23. INVESTIGATIONS
ECG. Look for signs of ACS; extension of type A dissection to coronary ostia can
cause coronary ischemia (right coronary artery most commonly affected).
D-dimer, CBC, basic electrolytes, LDH, cardiac markers, coagulation parameters,
and type and crossmatch. D-dimer <500 ng/dL is less likely to be aortic dissection.
X-RAY: Widened mediastinum and/or unexplained pleural effusion are consistent
with dissection, particularly if unilateral.
24. Vascular imaging
Stable without suspicion for ascending aortic involvement: Obtain thoracic CT
angiography or MR angiography, depending upon resources and speed of
acquisition. Dissection is confirmed by presence of intimal flap separating true and
false lumen. If these are not readily available or there is a contraindication, obtain
transesophageal echocardiogram.
Unstable patient or for strong suspicion of ascending aortic involvement:
Obtain transesophageal echocardiogram. If not immediately available, obtain CT
angiography. Transthoracic echocardiography may be useful for identifying
complications of ascending aortic dissection (eg, aortic valve regurgitation,
hemopericardium, inferior ischemia) but is not sensitive for identification of
dissection.
25. MANAGEMENT
Controlling pain
Anti-impulse therapy by controlling the blood pressure to minimize the likelihood
of rupture or progression, unless hypotension is present
IMMEDIATE TRANSFER CTVS FOR SURGERY or endovascular intervention or either
26. HR ≤60/BPM
Place two large bore Ivs
Monitor heart rate and blood pressure [arterial line]
Control heart rate <60 BPM
Esmolol :250 to 500 mcg/kg IV loading dose, then infuse at 25 to 50 mcg/kg/minute;
titrate to maximum dose of 300 mcg/kg/minute)
Labetolol (20 mg IV initially, followed by either 20 to 80 mg IV boluses every 10 minutes
to a maximal dose of 300 mg, or an infusion of 0.5 to 2 mg/minute IV)
Beta blockers are not tolerated, alternatives are verapamil, diltiazem, or nicardipine.
27. SBP:100 and 120 mmHg
Once heart rate is consistently <60 BPM, give vasodilator therapy
IF SBP >120 mmHg, initiate nitroprusside infusion (0.25 to 0.5 mcg/kg/minute titrated to
a maximum of 10 mcg/kg/minute) or nicardipine infusion (2.5 to 5 mg/hour titrated to a
maximum of 15 mg/hour)
Vasodilator therapy (eg, nitroprusside, nicardipine) should not be used without first
controlling heart rate with beta blockade.
28. REDUCE PAIN
Give IV opioids for analgesia (eg, fentanyl).
Place Foley catheter for assessment of urine output and kidney perfusion.
29. CTVS CONSULTATION
Aortic dissection involving the ascending aorta is a cardiac surgical emergency
Aortic dissection involving only the descending thoracic aorta or abdominal aorta
and with evidence of malperfusion is treated with urgent aortic stent-grafting or
surgery.
Aortic dissection involving only the descending thoracic aorta or abdominal aorta
without evidence for ischemia is admitted to the ICU for medical management of
hemodynamics and serial aortic imaging.
If appropriate surgical services◊ are not available, initiate emergent transfer to
nearest available cardiovascular center.
30. The grand round :Checklist of a case
CHIEF COMPLAIN
PRESENTATION
PAST HISTORY
TREATMENT HISTORY
PERSONAL HISTORY
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
FAMILY HISTORY
31. Checklist of a case presentation
GENERAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
SYSTEMIC EXAMIATION
CARDIOVASCULAR
OTHERS
SUMMERY
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
FINAL DIAGNOSIS
TREATMENT OPTIONS
34. PRESENT ILLNESS
SHE IS A KNOWN CASE OF HYPERTENSION ON REGULAR AMLODINE 5MG DAILY FOR LAST 2YRS
CHEST PAIN
48HRS
STARTED AT 11AM
DURING A BUCKET OF WASHED CLOTHES TO THE TERRACE
CONFINED TO MID CHEST
ANXIOUS
BREATHLESS AT REST
SWEATING PRESENT
NO RADIATION
NO RESPIRATORY VARIATION
NOT RELIVED BY ANTACID OR SUBLINGUAL NITRATE
TRANSIENT RELIEF USING INTRAVENOUS OPOID ANALGESIC