Iatrogenic acute type A aortic dissection during catheter ablation for idiopathic ventricular premature contraction

Acute aortic dissection type A during cardiac catheterization has been reported as a rare but fatal complication. We present a case of acute aortic dissection type A occurring during catheter manipulation in the ascending aorta during mapping of ventricular premature contraction via the retrograde approach. In the present case, transthoracic echocardiography showed no pericardial effusion and no flap of the aorta, but intracardiac echo clearly showed the flap. Enhanced computed tomography revealed the aortic dissection, which extended from the ascending aorta to the bilateral common iliac artery, and the false lumen was thrombosed completely. Emergent surgery was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged with no complications. Aortic dissection is a rare complication of cardiac catheterization, and early detection could prevent a fatal outcome. It is important to detect the signs and symptoms as quickly as possible and perform various diagnostic examinations.