Acute aortic syndrome

	Acute aortic syndrome Microchapters
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Patient Information
Overview
Classification • Aortic dissection • Aortic intramural hematoma • Penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulcer
Differentiating Acute Aortic Syndrome from other Diseases
Causes
Guidelines

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sahar Memar Montazerin, M.D.[2], Sabawoon Mirwais, M.B.B.S, M.D.[3]

Overview

Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) describes a constellation of emergency conditions with a similar clinical feature that involves the aorta. These include aortic dissection, intramural thrombus, and penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulcer. It is possible for AAS to get complicated by acute coronary syndrome. The term was introduced in 2001.

Classification

Acute aortic syndrome is classified into 5 entities as follows:^[2]^[3]

Type I: classic aortic dissection involving an intimal layer between the true and false lumen (with no communication between the two lumen)
Type II: aortic dissection with medial rupture and the subsequent intramural hematoma formation
Type III: subtle aortic dissection with bulging of the aortic wall
Type IV: aortic dissection due to plaque rupture and subsequent ulceration
Type V: iatrogenic/traumatic dissection

Differentiating Acute Aortic Syndrome from other Diseases

Acute aortic syndrome should be differentiated from other conditions causing signs and symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, back pain and etc.
For more information on the differential diagnosis of the acute aortic syndrome click here.

Causes

Causes include aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer or a thoracic aneurysm that has become unstable.^[4]
Basically, AAS can be caused by a breakdown on the wall of the aorta that involves the tunica intima and/or media.^[5]
For more information on aortic dissection causes click here.
For more information on aortic intramural hematoma causes click here.
For more information on penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulcer causes click here.

Guidelines

2014 ESC Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Diseases (DO NOT EDIT)^[6]


Recommendations	Class	Level	References
History and clinical assessment
"In all patients with suspected AAS, pre-test probability assessment is recommended, according to the patient’s condition, symptoms, and clinical features."	I	B	^[7]
Laboratory testing
"In case of suspicion of AAS, the interpretation of biomarkers should always be considered along with the pretest clinical probability."	IIa	B
"In case of low clinical probability of AAS, negative D-dimer levels should be considered as ruling out the diagnosis."	IIa	C	^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]
"In case of intermediate clinical probability of AAS with a positive (point-of-care) D-dimer test, further imaging tests should be considered."	IIa	B	^[8]^[9]
"In patients with high probability (risk score 2 or 3) of AD, testing of D-dimers is not recommended."	III	C
Imaging
"TTE is recommended as an initial imaging investigation."	I	C
"In unstabled patients with a suspicion of AAS, the following imaging modalities are recommended according to local availability and expertise:
TOE"	I	C
CT	I	C
"In stable patients with a suspicion of AAS, the following imaging modalities are recommended (or should be considered) according to local availability and expertise:
CT	I	C
MRI	I	C
TOE"	IIa	C
"In case of initially negative imaging with the persistence of suspicion of AAS, repetitive imaging (CT or MRI) is recommended."	I	C
"Chest X-ray maybe considered in cases of low clinical probability of AAS."	IIb	C
"In case of uncomplicated Type B AD treated medically, repeated imaging (CT or MRI)e during the first days is recommended."	I	C

Abbreviations: AAS: acute aortic syndrome; AD: aortic dissection; CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; TOE: transoesophageal echocardiography; TTE: transthoracic echocardiography.

References

↑ Schematic view of acute aortic syndrome by Sahar
↑ Erbel, R (2001). "Diagnosis and management of aortic dissection Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology". European Heart Journal. 22 (18): 1642–1681. doi:10.1053/euhj.2001.2782. ISSN 0195-668X.
↑ "2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of aortic diseases". European Heart Journal. 35 (41): 2873–2926. 2014. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu281. ISSN 0195-668X.
↑ Smith AD, Schoenhagen P (January 2008). "CT imaging for acute aortic syndrome". Cleve Clin J Med. 75 (1): 7–9, 12, 15–7 passim. doi:10.3949/ccjm.75.1.7. PMID 18236724.
↑ Evangelista Masip A (April 2007). "[Progress in the acute aortic syndrome]". Rev Esp Cardiol (in Spanish; Castilian). 60 (4): 428–39. doi:10.1157/13101646. PMID 17521551.
↑ Erbel R, Aboyans V, Boileau C, Bossone E, Bartolomeo RD, Eggebrecht H, Evangelista A, Falk V, Frank H, Gaemperli O, Grabenwöger M, Haverich A, Iung B, Manolis AJ, Meijboom F, Nienaber CA, Roffi M, Rousseau H, Sechtem U, Sirnes PA, Allmen RS, Vrints CJ (November 2014). "2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of aortic diseases: Document covering acute and chronic aortic diseases of the thoracic and abdominal aorta of the adult. The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)". Eur. Heart J. 35 (41): 2873–926. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu281. PMID 25173340.
↑ Evangelista, Arturo; Isselbacher, Eric M.; Bossone, Eduardo; Gleason, Thomas G.; Eusanio, Marco Di; Sechtem, Udo; Ehrlich, Marek P.; Trimarchi, Santi; Braverman, Alan C.; Myrmel, Truls; Harris, Kevin M.; Hutchinson, Stuart; O’Gara, Patrick; Suzuki, Toru; Nienaber, Christoph A.; Eagle, Kim A. (2018). "Insights From the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection". Circulation. 137 (17): 1846–1860. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.031264. ISSN 0009-7322.
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Eggebrecht, Holger; Mehta, Rajendra H.; Metozounve, Huguette; Huptas, Sebastian; Herold, Ulf; Jakob, Heinz G.; Erbel, Raimund (2008). "Clinical Implications of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Following Thoracic Aortic Stent-Graft Placement". Journal of Endovascular Therapy. 15 (2): 135–143. doi:10.1583/07-2284.1. ISSN 1526-6028.
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 Sutherland, Alexander; Escano, Jude; Coon, Troy P. (2008). "D-dimer as the Sole Screening Test for Acute Aortic Dissection: A Review of the Literature". Annals of Emergency Medicine. 52 (4): 339–343. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.12.026. ISSN 0196-0644.
↑ Suzuki, Toru; Bossone, Eduardo; Sawaki, Daigo; Jánosi, Rolf Alexander; Erbel, Raimund; Eagle, Kim; Nagai, Ryozo (2013). "Biomarkers of aortic diseases". American Heart Journal. 165 (1): 15–25. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2012.10.006. ISSN 0002-8703.
↑ Taylor, R. Andrew; Iyer, Neel S. (2013). "A decision analysis to determine a testing threshold for computed tomographic angiography and d-dimer in the evaluation of aortic dissection". The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 31 (7): 1047–1055. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2013.03.039. ISSN 0735-6757.

Template:Vascular diseases

[1] Schematic view of acute aortic syndrome by Sahar

[Erbel2001-2] Erbel, R (2001). "Diagnosis and management of aortic dissection Task Force on Aortic Dissection, European Society of Cardiology". European Heart Journal. 22 (18): 1642–1681. doi:10.1053/euhj.2001.2782. ISSN 0195-668X.

[3] "2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of aortic diseases". European Heart Journal. 35 (41): 2873–2926. 2014. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu281. ISSN 0195-668X.

[pmid18236724-4] Smith AD, Schoenhagen P (January 2008). "CT imaging for acute aortic syndrome". Cleve Clin J Med. 75 (1): 7–9, 12, 15–7 passim. doi:10.3949/ccjm.75.1.7. PMID 18236724.

[pmid17521551-5] Evangelista Masip A (April 2007). "[Progress in the acute aortic syndrome]". Rev Esp Cardiol (in Spanish; Castilian). 60 (4): 428–39. doi:10.1157/13101646. PMID 17521551.

[pmid25173340-6] Erbel R, Aboyans V, Boileau C, Bossone E, Bartolomeo RD, Eggebrecht H, Evangelista A, Falk V, Frank H, Gaemperli O, Grabenwöger M, Haverich A, Iung B, Manolis AJ, Meijboom F, Nienaber CA, Roffi M, Rousseau H, Sechtem U, Sirnes PA, Allmen RS, Vrints CJ (November 2014). "2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of aortic diseases: Document covering acute and chronic aortic diseases of the thoracic and abdominal aorta of the adult. The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)". Eur. Heart J. 35 (41): 2873–926. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu281. PMID 25173340.

[EvangelistaIsselbacher2018-7] Evangelista, Arturo; Isselbacher, Eric M.; Bossone, Eduardo; Gleason, Thomas G.; Eusanio, Marco Di; Sechtem, Udo; Ehrlich, Marek P.; Trimarchi, Santi; Braverman, Alan C.; Myrmel, Truls; Harris, Kevin M.; Hutchinson, Stuart; O’Gara, Patrick; Suzuki, Toru; Nienaber, Christoph A.; Eagle, Kim A. (2018). "Insights From the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection". Circulation. 137 (17): 1846–1860. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.031264. ISSN 0009-7322.

[EggebrechtMehta2008-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Eggebrecht, Holger; Mehta, Rajendra H.; Metozounve, Huguette; Huptas, Sebastian; Herold, Ulf; Jakob, Heinz G.; Erbel, Raimund (2008). "Clinical Implications of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Following Thoracic Aortic Stent-Graft Placement". Journal of Endovascular Therapy. 15 (2): 135–143. doi:10.1583/07-2284.1. ISSN 1526-6028.

[SutherlandEscano2008-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Sutherland, Alexander; Escano, Jude; Coon, Troy P. (2008). "D-dimer as the Sole Screening Test for Acute Aortic Dissection: A Review of the Literature". Annals of Emergency Medicine. 52 (4): 339–343. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.12.026. ISSN 0196-0644.

[SuzukiBossone2013-10] Suzuki, Toru; Bossone, Eduardo; Sawaki, Daigo; Jánosi, Rolf Alexander; Erbel, Raimund; Eagle, Kim; Nagai, Ryozo (2013). "Biomarkers of aortic diseases". American Heart Journal. 165 (1): 15–25. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2012.10.006. ISSN 0002-8703.

[TaylorIyer2013-11] Taylor, R. Andrew; Iyer, Neel S. (2013). "A decision analysis to determine a testing threshold for computed tomographic angiography and d-dimer in the evaluation of aortic dissection". The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 31 (7): 1047–1055. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2013.03.039. ISSN 0735-6757.

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