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CASE REPORT
Interrupted aortic arch complicated with takotsubo cardiomyopathy mimicking aortic dissection
  1. Farhala Mari Baloch1,
  2. Javed Majid Tai1,
  3. Aamir Hameed Khan2,
  4. Abdul Baqi2
  1. 1 Department of Cardiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  2. 2 Department of Cardiology, Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  1. Correspondence to Farhala Mari Baloch, farhala.baloch{at}aku.edu

Summary

A 50-year-old man presented to the emergency department with interscapular pain, diaphoresis and restlessness. Initial examination raised the possibility of aortic dissection; however, the CT scan did not concur with the diagnosis. An ECG showed ST segment elevation in leads V1–V6 and echocardiography showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Coronary angiography through the right femoral artery was attempted but the diagnostic catheter could not be advanced to the ascending aorta. Radiocontrast injection showed complete obstruction of the descending aorta. Coronary angiography through right radial approach showed mild left anterior descending disease. The aortogram showed complete interruption of the ascending aorta with extensive collateral network. Left ventricle gram was consistent with stress-induced cardiomyopathy. We noticed intermittent confusion and agitation. MRI of the brain showed areas of deep white matter ischaemia as well as microhaemorrhages, suggesting posterior reversible leucoencephalopathy syndrome. He unfortunately went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived.

  • stroke
  • heart failure
  • hypertension

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Footnotes

  • Contributors FB is the corresponding author and writer of the manuscript. AH, JMT and AB contributed to the editing of the manuscript.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.