Address for correspondence:
Amedeo Anselmi, MD, PhD
Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Pontchaillou University Hospital – Rennes, France
E-mailamedeo.anselmi@chu-rennes.fr
Telephone: 00 33 2 99 28 24 16
WORD COUNT: 1,513
Funding: None.
Conflict of Interest: None.

Abstract

Type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion and coma may pose decision-making challenges. We describe the case of a patient who presented coma in the context of acute type A aortic dissection, without cardiac tamponade. Brain MRI was performed 4 hours after the onset of symptoms to evaluate the brain perfusion and viability. We discuss the potential role of the currently available emergency brain MRI as an additional tool in the workup of aortic dissection, and its potential to discriminate between irreversible brain injury and brain viability.
KEY WORDS: Aortic dissection; Stroke; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Glossary

CPB Cardiopulmonary Bypass
CT-scan Computed Tomography scan
ECC Extracorporeal Circulation
HCA Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest
IRAD International Registry of Aortic Dissection
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NIRS Near Infrared Spectroscopy
TAAD Type A acute Aortic Dissection