Crucial role of carotid ultrasound for the rapid diagnosis of hyperacute aortic dissection complicated by cerebral infarction: A case report and literature review

Publication date: Available online 19 November 2016 Source:Medicina Author(s): Eglė Sukockienė, Kristina Laučkaitė, Antanas Jankauskas, Dalia Mickevičienė, Giedrė Jurkevičienė, Antanas Vaitkus, Edgaras Stankevičius, Kęstutis Petrikonis, Daiva Rastenytė Aortic dissection is a life-threatening rare condition that may virtually present by any organ system dysfunction, the nervous system included. Acute cerebral infarction among multiple other neurological and non-neurological presentations is part of this acute aortic syndrome. Rapid and correct diagnosis is of extreme importance keeping in mind the possibility of thrombolytic treatment if a patient with a suspected ischemic stroke arrives to the Emergency Department within a 4.5-h window after symptom onset. Systemic intravenous thrombolysis in the case of an acute brain infarction due to aortic dissection may lead to fatal outcomes. In this neurological emergency it is important to rule out underlying aortic dissection by choosing appropriately quick and accurate diagnostic tool. We aimed to present a prospective follow-up case, where carotid ultrasound examination was the primary key method that led to a correct diagnosis in hyperacute (<24h) Stanford type A aortic dissection presenting as an acute ischemic stroke, and thereafter with a repeated contrast-enhanced computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography, helped to monitor topography of intravascular processes and hemodynamic propert...
Source: Medicina - Category: Journals (General) Source Type: research