Author(s)

Kentaro Hayashi, Nobutaka Horie, Kazuhiko Suyama, Izumi Nagata

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.

Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate assessment and therapy. Rarely, aortic dis-section involves carotid arteries and manifest cerebral infarction. Here, we report a case of aortic dissection complicated with fatal cerebral infarction. A 83-year-old man, who suddenly suffered consciousness disturbance and right hemiparesis, was transferred to our hospital for the treatment of stroke. Magnetic resonance image revealed massive cerebral infarction in the left cerebral hemisphere as well as occlusion of the left internal carotid artery. Duplex ultrasonography demonstrated arterial dissection in the bilateral carotid arteries and the blood flow was compromised especially in the left side. Aortic dissection was confirmed by the contrast enhanced computed tomography. He was treated conservatively and died of cerebral hernia three days after the onset. In conclusion, aortic dissection may involve carotid artery and results in cerebral infarction. Ultrasound screening can aid timely diagnosis of aortic dissection and further management.

Aortic Dissection; Cerebral Infarction; Thrombolytic Therapy; Carotid Artery Occlusion

K. Hayashi, N. Horie, K. Suyama and I. Nagata, "Aortic Dissection Complicated with Fatal Cerebral Infarction: Case Report and Review of Literatures," Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery, Vol. 2 No. 2, 2012, pp. 21-24. doi: 10.4236/ojmn.2012.22005.