Vol 18, No 6 (2011)
Case Reports
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2011-11-23
Silent interrupted aortic arch in an elderly patient
Ismail Erden, Osman Kayapinar, Emine C. Erden, Subhan Yalçin
Cardiol J 2011;18(6):695-697.
Vol 18, No 6 (2011)
Case Reports
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2011-11-23
Abstract
Patients with complete interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) very rarely reach late adulthood
without having undergone surgical intervention. Only a few cases of IAA in adults have been
reported in the medical literature. In this case report, we present a late diagnosis of interrupted
aortic arch in a 68 year-old male. Our patient was relatively asymptomatic until he presented
with fatigue after walking quickly. A guidewire could not be passed to the aortic arch via the
femoral approach; descending thoracic aortography revealed complete occlusion of the descending
thoracic aorta. Cardiac catheterization via the right brachial artery confirmed the diagnosis
of a complete interruption of the aortic arch distal to the left subclavian artery and showed
distinct collateral circulation predominantly via the internal mammary arteries. Also, magnetic
resonance angiography showed cuttings that reveal the interruption in the aortic arch
and the prominent collateral vessels to the descending aorta. This case report was also interesting
in that pressure measurements at a proximal point of the interrupted aortic arch were not
hypertensive. Using both catheters, placed proximally and distally to the point of the interruption,
by simultaneous pressure measurement, it was measured as 120/75 mm Hg at the
proximal point, 60/40 mm Hg at the distal point. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 695–697)
Abstract
Patients with complete interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) very rarely reach late adulthood
without having undergone surgical intervention. Only a few cases of IAA in adults have been
reported in the medical literature. In this case report, we present a late diagnosis of interrupted
aortic arch in a 68 year-old male. Our patient was relatively asymptomatic until he presented
with fatigue after walking quickly. A guidewire could not be passed to the aortic arch via the
femoral approach; descending thoracic aortography revealed complete occlusion of the descending
thoracic aorta. Cardiac catheterization via the right brachial artery confirmed the diagnosis
of a complete interruption of the aortic arch distal to the left subclavian artery and showed
distinct collateral circulation predominantly via the internal mammary arteries. Also, magnetic
resonance angiography showed cuttings that reveal the interruption in the aortic arch
and the prominent collateral vessels to the descending aorta. This case report was also interesting
in that pressure measurements at a proximal point of the interrupted aortic arch were not
hypertensive. Using both catheters, placed proximally and distally to the point of the interruption,
by simultaneous pressure measurement, it was measured as 120/75 mm Hg at the
proximal point, 60/40 mm Hg at the distal point. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 695–697)
Keywords
congenital anomalies; interrupted aortic arch; elderly patients; vascular imaging
Title
Silent interrupted aortic arch in an elderly patient
Journal
Cardiology Journal
Issue
Vol 18, No 6 (2011)
Pages
695-697
Published online
2011-11-23
Page views
638
Article views/downloads
1185
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2011;18(6):695-697.
Keywords
congenital anomalies
interrupted aortic arch
elderly patients
vascular imaging
Authors
Ismail Erden
Osman Kayapinar
Emine C. Erden
Subhan Yalçin