Acute type A aortic dissection involving the left main coronary artery and the aortic valve--a case report

The authors report a case study of a 60 year-old-male admitted to the Coronary Care Unit with severe chest pain, hypertension and ST depression on the anterior and lateral leads of the electrocardiogram. A diastolic murmur was heard in the aortic area. The chest X-ray showed an enlarged superior mediastinum. The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed an image that indicated an intimal flap above the aortic plane with severe aortic regurgitation. An aortography was performed and confirmed the diagnosis of acute type A aortic dissection with partial obstruction of the left main coronary artery, probably due to compression by the haematoma. The patient underwent emergency surgical repair with replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta. The patient survived without complications post surgery and was discharged ten days after onset of symptoms. Twenty months later, the patient was asymptomatic and the transesophageal echocardiogram showed a dissection of the descending thoracic aorta, mild aortic regurgitation and good left ventricular systolic function.