Key result
A 32-year-old pregnant woman with atypical symptoms initially attributed to anxiety was diagnosed postpartum with a chronic type A aortic dissection and successfully treated with a Bentall procedure.
Why the study?
Aortic dissection occurs rarely during pregnancy but carries a high vital risk for both mother and fetus, making early diagnosis and treatment critical.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the critical need for thorough cardiovascular examination and high clinical suspicion during pregnancy to prevent delayed diagnosis of life-threatening aortic dissection, even in patients presenting with atypical symptoms like anxiety.
Supports surgical repair in peripartum aortic dissection with reduced EF; hypothesis-generating for heightened diagnostic suspicion during pregnancy.
BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection occurs rarely during pregnancy but carries a significantly high vital risk for both the mother and the fetus. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for a successful outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old pregnant woman at 31 weeks of gestation began experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, and palpitations, which were attributed to an anxiety disorder she had been previously diagnosed with. The symptoms continued to worsen following the delivery when a chest computed tomography investigation revealed signs of chronic type A aortic dissection and an 80 mm post-dissection aneurysm of the ascending aorta. Aortic repair via composite aortic root replacement surgery (Bentall procedure) and partial aortic arch replacement was performed. The patient's postoperative evolution was notable for a series of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our report highlights the importance of thorough maternal examination during pregnancy. The high mortality rates associated with aortic dissection occurring in pregnant women and the possibility of missed intervention due to atypical clinical presentation warrant the need for standardized international protocols aimed at the prevention and timely diagnosis of prenatal aortic disease.
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Șulea et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Pregnancy-related chronic type A aortic dissection (n=1). Bentall procedure and partial aortic arch replacement was evaluated on Survival and recovery. A 32-year-old pregnant woman with atypical symptoms initially attributed to anxiety was diagnosed postpartum with a chronic type A aortic dissection and successfully treated with a Bentall procedure.
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