Bilateral Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Aortic Dissection Case
Author Information
Author(s): Angeline Reid, Peter Stride, Jonathan Hunter, Katerina Liew, T. Wood, Mostafa Seleem
Primary Institution: Redcliffe Hospital, University of Queensland School of Medicine
Conclusion
A thoracic CT scan showing a Stanford Type A dissecting aneurysm with a hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and intrapulmonary extramural perivascular extravasation of blood into the alveoli implies a very poor prognosis.
Supporting Evidence
- Intramural dissection back down the aorta into the pericardium causing tamponade can occur with Stanford Type A aortic dissections and indicates an increased risk of mortality.
- Cardiac tamponade was reported in 18.7% of a series of 674 patients with a comparative in-hospital mortality rate of 54%.
- Pulmonary artery dissections are diagnosed during life in only 14% of cases and are most commonly diagnosed at autopsy.
- Haemorrhage along the pulmonary artery was noted in 9.1% of patients with a Stanford Type A aortic dissection.
Takeaway
An 80-year-old man had a serious condition where his aorta was tearing, causing bleeding in his lungs, which is very dangerous.
Methodology
The case was evaluated through emergency CT imaging and clinical examination.
Limitations
The study is based on a single case report, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
An 80-year-old man with a history of hypertension.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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