Dissection of the aorta and coronary arteries associated with acute cocaine intoxication

Acute myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, and conduction disturbances are the most common cardiovascular complications of cocaine and its alkaloidal freebase "crack." Cocaine abuse-related acute aortic dissection has been reported only rarely: three cases in the last 5 years. Described herein, to our knowledge, is the first case of cocaine intoxication-associated acute aortic dissection that also involved the coronary arteries, causing sudden death.