What question did this study set out to answer?

To report a rare case of extensive Stanford Type A aortic dissection presenting as sudden cardiac arrest.

May 16, 2026Open Access

Extended Stanford Type A (DeBakey Type I) Aortic Dissection From the Carotid to the Femoral Arteries Presenting as Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Global Cerebral Infarction: A Case Report

Key Points

To report a rare case of extensive Stanford Type A aortic dissection presenting as sudden cardiac arrest.
Detailed case presentation of a 58-year-old male with a history of hypertension and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Assessment of dissection extent involving major arteries from the aortic arch to the femoral arteries.
Emphasis on the use of vascular imaging techniques for diagnosis.
The dissection involved the innominate, subclavian, and bilateral carotid arteries, compromising cerebral perfusion.
Patient presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, showcasing atypical manifestation of aortic dissection.
Case underscores need for comprehensive vascular imaging for timely diagnosis and management.

Abstract

Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare but serious vascular emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and intervention. We report the case of a 58-year-old male with a history of poorly controlled hypertension and prior abdominal aortic aneurysm who presented with an extensive Stanford Type A AD originating near the aortic arch and propagating throughout the thoracic and abdominal aorta into the bilateral iliac arteries, extending distally to the left common femoral artery. Proximally, the dissection involved the innominate, subclavian, and bilateral carotid arteries, resulting in severely compromised cerebral perfusion. This case highlights an exceptionally extensive form of AD with near pan-aortic involvement and widespread branch vessel propagation affecting cerebral, visceral, and peripheral circulations. It also underscores the atypical presentation of AD as sudden cardiac arrest without preceding symptoms, emphasizing the need for a high index of suspicion and comprehensive vascular imaging to accurately assess disease extent and guide management.

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