Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a critical condition characterized by the tearing of the aortic wall, posing significant diagnostic challenges due to its diverse clinical presentations. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with hypertension and dyslipidemia who presented with acute abdominal a...

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Main Authors: Khalid Sawalha, Angel Lopez-Candales
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-07-01
Series:Heart Views
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_44_24
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author Khalid Sawalha
Angel Lopez-Candales
author_facet Khalid Sawalha
Angel Lopez-Candales
author_sort Khalid Sawalha
collection DOAJ
description Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a critical condition characterized by the tearing of the aortic wall, posing significant diagnostic challenges due to its diverse clinical presentations. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with hypertension and dyslipidemia who presented with acute abdominal and chest pain, initially raising suspicion of myocardial infarction. Despite an unremarkable electrocardiogram and initially normal troponin levels, the patient experienced ventricular fibrillation, prompting further evaluation. The patient’s clinical course was complicated by recurrent cardiac arrests. Subsequent imaging revealed AAD, which was not initially recognized, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis and the critical need for prompt recognition and management of AAD. This case underscores the necessity of considering AAD in patients with atypical presentations and the pivotal role of advanced imaging techniques in facilitating timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention.
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publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
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series Heart Views
spelling doaj-art-ee96af6b51654d319c8fbc8d31d3a36d2025-02-06T05:22:53ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsHeart Views1995-705X0976-51232024-07-0125316917310.4103/heartviews.heartviews_44_24Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain PresentationKhalid SawalhaAngel Lopez-CandalesAcute aortic dissection (AAD) is a critical condition characterized by the tearing of the aortic wall, posing significant diagnostic challenges due to its diverse clinical presentations. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with hypertension and dyslipidemia who presented with acute abdominal and chest pain, initially raising suspicion of myocardial infarction. Despite an unremarkable electrocardiogram and initially normal troponin levels, the patient experienced ventricular fibrillation, prompting further evaluation. The patient’s clinical course was complicated by recurrent cardiac arrests. Subsequent imaging revealed AAD, which was not initially recognized, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis and the critical need for prompt recognition and management of AAD. This case underscores the necessity of considering AAD in patients with atypical presentations and the pivotal role of advanced imaging techniques in facilitating timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_44_24aortic dissectioncardiac arrestintra-aortic balloon pumpmyocardial infarction
spellingShingle Khalid Sawalha
Angel Lopez-Candales
Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation
Heart Views
aortic dissection
cardiac arrest
intra-aortic balloon pump
myocardial infarction
title Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation
title_full Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation
title_fullStr Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation
title_full_unstemmed Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation
title_short Concealed Truths Always Hide behind the Shadows of the Not So Obvious: Deadly Chest Pain Presentation
title_sort concealed truths always hide behind the shadows of the not so obvious deadly chest pain presentation
topic aortic dissection
cardiac arrest
intra-aortic balloon pump
myocardial infarction
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_44_24
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