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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Full-root Aortic Valve Replacement by Stentless Aortic Xenografts in Patients with Small Aortic Roots
Published on: May 21, 2017
Conservatively treated coronary malperfusion associated with acute type A dissection before aortic root replacement
Sokichi Kamata1, Toshihiro Funatsu1, Yoshito Itou1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Rinku General Medical Center, Izumisano, Japan.
Insights
Conservative management can improve coronary malperfusion in acute type A aortic dissection. Electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography aids diagnosis and guides treatment for this critical condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coronary malperfusion in aortic dissection typically necessitates aggressive surgical or catheter-based revascularization.
- Acute type A aortic dissection presents a significant risk of myocardial ischemia due to compromised coronary artery flow.
Observation:
- An 81-year-old female presented with circulatory shock and ECG evidence of myocardial infarction.
- Initial fluid resuscitation normalized blood pressure and resolved ischemic ECG changes within 20 minutes.
- ECG-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography revealed type A aortic dissection involving the left main trunk.
Findings:
- The dissection originated 5 mm below the left coronary ostium, causing coronary malperfusion.
- The patient's coronary malperfusion demonstrated transient improvement with conservative management (fluid resuscitation).
- Successful composite graft replacement of the aortic root was performed under stable hemodynamic conditions.
Implications:
- Emergency clinicians should consider conservative management for coronary malperfusion in select acute type A aortic dissection cases.
- ECG-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography is a valuable diagnostic and management tool for aortic dissection with coronary involvement.
- This case highlights the potential for non-surgical interventions to temporarily stabilize coronary perfusion before definitive aortic repair.
Abstract:
Coronary malperfusion associated with aortic dissection usually requires aggressive surgical treatment or catheter revascularization. Here, we report a case of conservatively treated coronary malperfusion associated with acute type A dissection before aortic root replacement. An 81-year-old woman was rushed to our hospital in a state of circulatory shock after developing chest pain. She was severely hypotensive on admission, and the electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed anterior and lateral ST elevation. However, the initial fluid resuscitation increased her blood pressure to a normal level, and the ischemic ECG changes disappeared in about 20 min. ECG-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography showed a type A aortic dissection complicated with left main trunk dissection. A primary entry tear was located 5 mm below the left coronary ostium. The patient successfully underwent composite graft replacement of the aortic root in a stable hemodynamic condition. <Learning objective: Emergency clinicians should be aware that coronary malperfusion associated with aortic dissection can be improved by conservative management in some cases. Electrocardiogram-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography is a useful tool for the diagnosis and clinical management of this condition.>.
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