Pseudo-dissection of ascending aorta in inferior myocardial infarction
Abstract:
Overview
Acute aortic dissection is a cardiac emergency which can present as inferior myocardial infarction. It has high morbidity and mortality requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Rapid advances in non-invasive imaging have facilitated the early diagnosis of this condition and in ruling out this potentially catastrophic illness. We report an interesting case of a 57-year old man who presented with inferior myocardial infarction requiring thrombolysis and temporary pacing wire for complete heart block. An echocardiogram was highly suspicious of aortic dissection. CT scan confirmed that the malposition of the temporary pacing wire through the aorta mimicked aortic dissection.
Keywords
Dissection, aorta, temporary pacing wire, artefact.
Article:
Article Information:
Correspondence
Muhammad Nadeem Attar, 28, St Francis Close, Preston PR2 9WJ, Lancs, UK. Tel. +44.7981.925 483. E-mail: nadattar@hotmail.com
Received
2011-05-08T00:00:00