Acute aortic occlusion: A point‐of‐care ultrasound case report

Introduction Acute aortic occlusion (AAO) is a rare vascular emergency with significant associated morbidity and mortality Methods This case report discusses a 39‐year‐old gentleman with methamphetamine‐associated cardiomyopathy (MACM) who presented with bilateral lower limb ischaemia. A POCUS was performed to rapidly evaluate the patient on arrival, which demonstrated AAO. A literature review was conducted to identify similar cases where AAO was detected by POCUS. Results POCUS showed a left ventricular thrombus (LVT), an embolus in the distal abdominal aorta and no flow distal to the embolus, which is consistent with AAO. The patient was successfully reperfused and had a good outcome after a timely diagnosis and management. Discussion This case report outlines a rare pathology in an uncommon age group where POCUS can expedite diagnosis and management. Conclusion POCUS is a valuable tool, which can expedite and facilitate rapid revascularisation of AAO.