Non-traumatic aortic dissection or rupture as cause of cardiac arrest: presentation and outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency, presentation and outcome of non-traumatic aortic dissection/rupture as a cause of cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a cardiac arrest registry in a tertiary care hospital emergency department. RESULTS: Over 11.5 years, aortic dissection/rupture was identified as the immediate cause of cardiac arrest in 46 (2,3%) out of 1990 patients with sudden cardiac arrest, primarily affecting the abdominal aorta in 25 and the thoracic aorta in 21 cases. The characteristics of the 46 patients were as follows: male gender (74%), median age 71 years (IQR 59-76), high co-morbidity (89%), previously known aortic aneurysm (33%), pulseless electric activity (70%) as initial cardiac rhythm. When performed, bedside abdominal sonography or echocardiography was almost always diagnostic. Patients with abdominal aortic dissection/rupture had abdominal (52%) and/or flank pain (32%). Patients with thoracic aortic dissection/rupture complained of chest pain (48%) or dyspnoea (19%). Return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 12 (26%) of 46 patients, emergency surgery was performed in eight of these patients, 2 (4%) survived to discharge in good neurological condition. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac arrest caused by aortic dissection/rupture is rare, and mortality remains very high, even when circulation can be restored initially. Common features such as previously known aortic aneurysm, old age, male gender and pulseless electrical activity as initial cardiac rhythm should increase suspicion of the condition.     

Emergency department recognition and management of dissecting thoracic aneurysm

Dissecting thoracic aneurysm is a rapidly fatal disease if left untreated. A high clinical suspicion is essential in making the diagnosis. Treatment with β blockade and vasodilation is begun before definitive diagnostic investigations are performed. In Australia, contrast CT scanning and increasingly transoesophageal echocardiography are readily available tests and may be preferred to angiography in many centres. However, cases of dissecting thoracic aneurysm are still missed as they may present in a variety of subtle ways. Dissecting thoracic aneurysm should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients in the emergency department with unexplained symptoms or signs, particularly the combination of chest pain, pulse deficits and neurological dysfunction.     

Need for bedside emergency department ultrasonography: case report of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy

Ultrasonography is a useful tool for the immediate evaluation of patients with suspected ruptured ectopic pregnancy, abdominal aortic aneurysm, traumatic intra-abdominal hemorrhage or cardiac tamponade. The 1999 Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians position statement states that bedside emergency department ultrasonography should be available 24 hours per day. This case study illustrates how emergency physicians properly trained in emergency bedside ultrasonography can use this tool effectively to dramatically impact patient care.     

Resuscitation for an octogenarian with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm using endovascular balloon

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a true emergency for emergency physicians and surgeons. Achieving effective proximal control may ameliorate further hemodynamic deterioration and buy time for patients awaiting further repair. An 82-year-old man was referred to our hospital with shock resulting from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. At the moment of impending cardiac arrest, aortic occlusion was achieved with a transfemoral endovascular balloon, without fluoroscopic guidance. The octogenarian then underwent a prosthetic graft reconstruction and recovered well. In this report, the safeguards and pitfalls of aortic occlusion using an endovascular balloon are discussed. This procedure is not only effective in vascular control but also valuable in resuscitation.     

胸主动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的:总结7例胸主动脉瘤病人的外科治疗经验.方法:7例病人中胸降主动脉瘤2例,主动脉根部瘤(马凡综合征)2例,夹层动脉瘤3例,均为Ⅱ型夹层动脉瘤,其中1例合并冠心痛,前降支单支病变.胸降主动脉瘤在低温体外循环下行人工血管置换术.升主动脉瘤和Ⅱ型夹层动脉瘤在低温体外循环下行Bentall手术,其中1例采用带管道无支架生物瓣,同时行冠脉搭桥手术.结果:6例存活,1例死于低心排综合征.结论:在胸主动脉瘤的外科治疗中,Bentall手术是治疗升主动脉瘤较好的手术方法.外科手术技术是手术成功的重要因素.体外循环管理,良好的心肌保护和血液保护是保证手术成功的重要手段.带管道无支架生物瓣对老年人及抗凝有禁忌或主动脉根部较小者更适宜,对合并冠心病的患者宜同期行冠脉搭桥术.     

Aortopulmonary fistula

BACKGROUND: Aortopulmonary fistula is an uncommon but usually fatal condition if not treated surgically. The most frequent cause is erosion of a false aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta into the left lung. METHODS: Review of charts of all patients who had had resection of a thoracic aortic aneurysm at the MidAmerica Heart Institute (1971 to 1997) revealed three cases in which the presentation was hemoptysis resulting from an aortopulmonary fistula. The clinical features and course of each patient are summarized in this report. RESULTS: The three patients with hemoptysis due to an aortopulmonary fistula had emergency surgical intervention with no major complication. CONCLUSIONS: Any patient who has an otherwise unexplained hemoptysis and a history of a previous thoracic aortic surgical procedure or is known to have a thoracic aortic aneurysm should have appropriate clinical evaluation to exclude the presence of an aortopulmonary fistula. If an aortopulmonary fistula cannot be excluded, emergency operation should be done.     

Chronic voice hoarseness: when is it an emergency?

We report a 68-year-old man with chronic voice hoarseness, who presented to the emergency room with left-sided chest and hypochondrial pain. Chest radiograph showed a large mediastinal mass confirmed to be a thoracic aortic aneurysm by an emergent computed tomography scan. Examination and investigations of a patient with voice hoarseness and chest pain should focus on looking out for dissecting or leaking aneurysms, which may be catastrophic if missed.     

Thoracic aneurysm rupture presenting as a rapidly enlarging neck mass.

A rapidly enlarging neck mass is an unusual clinical complaint at the emergency department. We report a case of an acute left neck swelling caused by a haematoma from a ruptured thoracic aneurysm. This resulted in dynamic airway distortion and obstruction and posed a great challenge to airway management.     

Small ruptured abdominal aneurysm diagnosed by emergency physician ultrasound

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms currently have a high rate of both mortality and misdiagnosis. Aneurysms smaller than 4 cm are not commonly considered for surgical repair. This report describes the case of a ruptured abdominal aneurysm measuring less than 4 cm diagnosed by the emergency physician utilizing bedside ultrasound. Within 30 minutes of arrival at the emergency department the patient's abdominal pain resolved spontaneously after defecation. If the bedside ultrasound had not been performed it is possible the patient would have been discharged from the hospital without surgical intervention. Bedside ultrasound by emergency physicians may improve the diagnosis of ruptured aortic aneurysms, particularly if the presentation is atypical.     

Transesophageal echocardiography identification of aortic dissection during cardiac arrest and cessation of ECMO initiation

Cardiac arrest is a challenging clinical presentation that emergency medicine providers often encounter. Aortic dissection is an uncommon etiology in all-comers presenting in cardiac arrest. The use of bedside point of care echocardiography to aid in resuscitative efforts is expanding, particularly with the increasing use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) by emergency medicine providers. Additionally, emergency department initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a relatively newer development in emergency department practice. We report the case of a 64-year old male presenting to the emergency department in cardiac arrest with TEE identification of aortic dissection as the etiology resulting in discontinuation of ECMO initiation attempts.     

“一站式”杂交手术方法治疗胸主动脉瘤及夹层动脉瘤的介入护理

目的探讨“一站式”杂交手术治疗胸主动脉瘤及夹层动脉瘤的术中护理配合的经验及管理。方法对10例胸主动脉瘤和夹层动脉瘤患者,在导管室行杂交手术,术中护士与医生的默契配合,严密生命体征监护,充分的各种抢救药品、器械的准备,保证手术顺利进行,防止各种并发症的发生。结果通过介入护理,患者均成功顺利完成杂交手术,术中无并发症发生。结论严格的护理管理,介入专科护士技能的培训,对杂交手术治疗胸主动脉瘤和夹层动脉瘤患者护理是安全有效的,术中介入护士与医生的默契、熟练配合,严密的生命体征监护对保证手术成功有重要作用。     

胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤介入治疗中数字减影血管造影技术的应用分析

目的探究数字减影血管造影(DSA)摄影技术应用于胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤介入治疗中的临床价值。方法分析2009年1月至2011年9月间应用DSA影像对51例胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤患者进行介入治疗的资料。结果对病患的采集参数、体位以及注射参数、图像后处理进行适当选择,即能够确切显示胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤部位、破口以及真假腔内血流差别、与相邻血管的关系。结论数字减影血管造影摄影技术应用于胸主动脉夹层动脉瘤介入治疗临床价值很高,具有重要意义。     

急性主动脉夹层动脉瘤的急救及护理干预

目的探索、总结迅速识别、早期诊断、及时抢救、有效护理急性主动脉夹层动脉瘤的方法,提高抢救成功率。方法总结夹层动脉瘤临床救治与护理经验,运用护理程序对病人实施早期护理干预,制定护理计划、落实护理措施。结果与结论提高患者的认知水平,防止意外;早期诊断,缓解疼痛;严密监测血压;安全转运;以及积极有效的护理对策能降低主动脉夹层动脉瘤患者在急性期的病死率。     

A case of chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm complicated with rupture into the right atrium: Diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography

Although rupture of a dissecting aortic aneurysm into the pericardial sac, pleural cavities, or mediastinum is a frequently encountered complication of this entity, rupture into a right-sided cardiac chamber is extremely rare. An 80-year-old woman was admitted to this institution because of dyspnea and facial edema. One year before admission, a diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm (Stanford A type) was made based on results of magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE); however, the patient and her family refused surgical therapy. On admission, blood pressure was 120/60 mmHg, and a Levine 3/6° continuous murmur was audible at the third and fourth intercostal spaces of the right sternal border. Chest x-ray film showed moderate cardiomegaly, congested lung fields, and bilateral pleural effusion. A two-dimensional echocardiogram revealed severe aortic root dilatation 80 mm in diameter with the intimal flap. Color flow Doppler imaging demonstrated abnormal flow toward the back space in dilated ascending aorta. Continuous wave Doppler imaging showed the peak velocity of this flow to be 4.8 m/s. This high-velocity flow strongly suggested that the dissecting aortic aneurysm had ruptured into the right-sided cardiac chamber, and shunt flow from the false lumen of the aortic aneurysm into the right atrium was directly visualized by TEE. Our diagnosis, based on these findings, was chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm with communication into the right atrium. In view of the patient’s deteriorating clinical condition, cardiac catheterization was not performed before surgery. Surgery revealed an aneurysm of the ascending aorta measuring 90 mm in diameter and multiple fistulas approximately 2 to 3 mm in diameter arising from the false lumen of the aorta into the right atrium at the base of the atrial appendage. The patient underwent successful replacement of the ascending aorta and closure of the aorto-right atrial fistulas. She had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged 7 weeks after surgery.     

Delayed presentation of left ventricular outflow tract aneurysm after penetrating cardiac trauma.

We report a case of posttraumatic left ventricular outflow tract aneurysm in a patient who had a stab injury to the chest requiring emergency operation 40 years previously. After apparent decades without symptoms, the patient presented with exertional dyspnea. Clinical and echocardiographic assessment revealed aortic regurgitation and left ventricular outflow tract aneurysm. Injuries to the chest wall that penetrate the heart and great vessels are life-threatening and require emergency operative intervention. However, these injuries rarely, as in this case, result in chronic cardiac aneurysm and aortic valvular incompetence.     

Emergency medicine physicians saving time with ultrasound

In an attempt to provide comprehensive and timely patient care, emergency physicians have begun to use ultrasonography to perform and interpret goal-oriented examinations. Reducing time to diagnosis can potentially have a major impact on the treatment of patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leaking aortic aneurysm, and cardiac tamponade, who require time-sensitive surgical intervention. A review of three cases reveals how ultrasonography performed by emergency physicians can rapidly provide valuable diagnostic information and expedite patient care in three different clinical scenarios.     

Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Diagnosis of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: Two Cases

Background

Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are less prevalent than abdominal aortic aneurysms. Symptomatic TAAs need to be identified quickly by the emergency physician (EP) since mortality rates increase dramatically once complications such as rupture or dissection occur. Compared with validated EP-performed ultrasound of the abdominal aorta, EP-performed focused cardiac ultrasound that includes evaluation of the thoracic aorta is relatively unreported.

Objective

Two cases illustrate EP-performed focused cardiac ultrasound and evaluation of the thoracic aorta for aneurysmal dilation.

Case Reports

(1) A 60-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) after a blunt traumatic injury to his back while at work. During the focused cardiac ultrasound examination, the aortic outflow tract distal to the aortic valve appeared enlarged and the aortic root measured 5.49 cm. (2) An 82-year-old man with hypertension presented to the ED with 1 month of chest pain radiating to the back. The focused cardiac ultrasound examination demonstrated enlargement of the descending thoracic aorta at 4.82 cm.

Conclusion

EPs performing focused cardiac ultrasound can visualize regions of the thoracic aorta that may reveal an aneurysm, particularly in the parasternal long axis view.     

Point‐of‐care Focused Cardiac Ultrasound for the Assessment of Thoracic Aortic Dimensions,Dilation, and Aneurysmal Disease

Objectives: Thoracic aortic aneurysm and thoracic aortic dissection are related and potentially deadly diseases that present with nonspecific symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) may detect thoracic aortic pathology and is being increasingly performed by the emergency physician at the bedside; however, the accuracy of point‐of‐care (POC) focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) for thoracic aortic aneurysm and thoracic aortic dissection has not been studied. The objective of this pilot study was to explore the agreement, sensitivity, and specificity of FOCUS for thoracic aortic dimensions, dilation, and aneurysm compared with CT angiography (CTA) as the reference standard. Methods: This study was a retrospective pilot analysis of image and chart data on consecutive patients presenting to an urban, academic emergency department (ED) between January 2008 and June 2010, who had both a FOCUS and a CTA for suspicion of thoracic aorta pathology. Thoracic aorta dimensions were measured from recordings by three ultrasound‐trained emergency physicians blinded to any initial FOCUS and CTA results. CTA measurements were obtained by a radiologist blinded to the FOCUS results. Using cutoffs of 40 and 45 mm, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of FOCUS for aortic dilation and aneurysm with the largest measurement on CT as the reference standard. Bland‐Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement were used to demonstrate agreement for aortic measurements, kappa statistics to assess the degree of agreement between tests for aortic dilation, and intraclass correlation for interobserver and intraobserver variability. Results: Ninety‐two patients underwent both FOCUS and CTA during the study period. Ten FOCUS studies had inadequate visualization for all measurements areas. Eighty‐two patients were included in the final analysis. Mean (±SD) age was 58.1 (±16.6) years and 58.5% were male. Sensitivity, specificity, and the observed kappa value (95% confidence interval [CI]) between FOCUS and CTA for the presence of aortic dilation at the 40‐mm cutoff were 0.77 (95% CI = 0.58 to 0.98), 0.95 (95% CI = 0.84 to 0.99), and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.58 to 0.90), respectively. The mean difference (95% limits of agreement) for the Bland‐Altman plots was 0.6 mm (?5.3 to 6.5) for the sinuses of Valsalva, 4 mm (?2.7 to 10.7) for the sinotubular junction, 1.5 mm (?5.8 to 8.8) for the ascending aorta, and 2.2 mm (?5.9 to 10.3) for the descending aorta. Conclusions: In this retrospective pilot study, FOCUS demonstrated good agreement with CTA measurements of maximal thoracic aortic diameter. FOCUS appears to be specific for aortic dilation and aneurysm when compared to CTA, but requires further prospective study. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19 :1–4 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine     

Cardiac arrest in pregnancy and perimortem cesarean delivery: case report and discussion

Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is a rare occurrence, particularly in the emergency department setting. The resuscitation of a pregnant patient in cardiac arrest is unique in a number of ways. Early identification and treatment of possible etiologies, appropriate response to the physiologic changes present in pregnancy, relief of potential vena cava obstruction by the gravid uterus, and expeditious preparation for possible cesarean delivery are important considerations for a successful resuscitation. We report and discuss the case of a pregnant patient with pulmonary edema and cardiac dysfunction who presented with severe hypoxemia and subsequent cardiac arrest and underwent a perimortem cesarean delivery and simultaneous fetal and maternal resuscitation in the emergency department.     

腔内隔绝术治疗主动脉夹层及胸主动脉瘤

目的探讨腔内隔绝术治疗DeBakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层及胸主动脉瘤的手术时机及操作技巧。方法10例DeBakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层及胸主动脉瘤(DeBakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层9例、胸主动脉瘤1例)患者行腔内隔绝术,术前行CTA或MRA及主动脉造影检查,判断主动脉夹层裂口位置与数量及胸主动脉瘤范围、左锁骨下动脉开口左侧胸主动脉直径、近端裂口至左锁骨下动脉开口的距离、真腔直径以及腹主动脉主要分支血管的血供来源,选支架规格及输送路径,然后在全麻下行右股动脉切开,透视引导下置入支架释放系统,定位准确后释放覆膜支架,完成腔内隔绝术。1例因破裂口位于左颈总动脉与左锁骨下动脉之间而先行右颈总动脉-左颈总动脉-左锁骨下动脉转流术。结果10例患者腔内隔绝术均获得成功。近端裂口距左锁骨下动脉开口距离平均3.5cm,出现Ⅱ型内漏1例。随访1~24个月,术后无截瘫发生,胸背部疼痛症状消失。1例胸主动脉瘤破裂伴食道瘘患者术后1个月死于感染。结论腔内隔绝术治疗DeBakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层和胸主动脉瘤是一种创伤小、疗效确切的方法。但远期效果仍有待进一步观察。