1 INTRODUCTION
Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) remains a life-threatening
emergency. Cardiac tamponade1 and mesenteric
malperfusion2 are known to increase the operative risk
in patients with ATAAD. Central aortic repair involving resection of the
primary entry tear can improve the perfusion status by increasing blood
flow in the true lumen. However, timely reperfusion is mandatory for
organ protection, and the beneficial effects of central aortic repair
are limited in patients with dissection extending to the peripheral
aortic branch. Although the utility of endovascular stenting to clear
arterial blockage has been reported,3 concomitant
cardiac tamponade may further complicate the
therapeutic
process. We
report herein successful treatment of a patient with ATAAD presenting
with shock caused by cardiac tamponade and mesenteric malperfusion.