ST Elevation in Lead aVR with Malperfusion Syndrome: Sign of Severe Aortic Dissection
Malperfusion, aVR Elevation, Aortic Dissection
Abstract
Aortic dissection presenting with ST elevation in lead aVR of electrocardiogram is strongly associated with mortality. It is also associated with dissection involving the root of aorta and coronary vessels. We report a case of young male with hypertension, who presented with severe chest pain and unilateral lower limb pain. Physical examination of the left lower limb was consistent with acute limb ischemia. Electrocardiogram revealed acute anterolateral myocardial infarction together with ST elevation in aVR. Bedside transthoracic echocardiography showed a dilated aortic root measuring 4.51 cm with presence of intimal flap which raised the suspicion of dissection of root of aorta and left coronary artery. Computed tomography angiogram revealed aortic dissection from the root of aorta including the intimal flap near the origin of the left coronary artery, down to common iliac extending to the left iliac artery. Unfortunately, the patient opted for non-surgical intervention and succumbed 48 hours later. This case highlights that in case of aortic dissection, which presents with malperfusion syndrome, the presence of ST segment elevation at lead aVR should raise the suspicion for extensive aortic dissection involving the aortic root and left coronary artery which signifies unfavourable outcome.
Keywords :
aortic dissection,
malperfusion syndrome,
ST elevation aVR,
Abstrak
Kenaikan segmen ST di elektrod aVR elektrokardiografi di dalam kes diseksi aorta mempunyai risiko kematian yang tinggi. Ia melibatkan diseksi yang berlaku di akar aorta. Kami melaporkan kes pesakit lelaki muda yang menghidap penyakit darah tinggi, yang datang ke Jabatan Kecemasan dengan sakit dada dan sakit di bahagian kaki. Pemeriksaan fizikal pada bahagian bawah kiri anggota adalah konsisten dengan iskemia akut. Elektrokardiogram menunjukkan serangan jantung akut di bahagian elektrod anterolateral, dan kenaikan ST segmen di elektrod aVR. Ekokardiografi menunjukkan akar aorta yang berukuran 4.51 cm dan kehadiran flap intimal, meningkatkan kebarangkalian diseksi pada akar aorta dan arteri koronari. Tomography Computed Angiogram menunjukkan terdapat diseksi aorta dari akar aorta termasuk flap intimal berhampiran permulaan arteri koronari kiri, hingga ke arteri iliac utama ke arteri iliac kiri. Malangnya, pesakit memilih untuk tidak menjalani pembedahan dan akhirnya meninggal dunia selepas 48 jam di masukkan ke wad. Kes ini menjelaskan bahawa, dalam kes diseksi aorta yang hadir dengan sindrom 'malperfusion', kenaikan segmen ST pada elektrod aVR akan meningkatkan kebarangkalian terjadinya diseksi aorta yang teruk melibatkan akar aorta dan juga arteri koronari, yang menjadikan prognosis pesakit lebih teruk.
Kata Kunci :
Diseksi aorta,
kenaikan segmen ST aVR,
sindrom malperfusi,
Correspondance Address
Azlan Helmy Abd-Samat. Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-91456482 Email: azlanhelmy@ukm.edu.my
