An Atypical Presentation of Severe Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

A 55-year-old male patient with no past medical history presents to the ED to complain of exertional dyspnea and bilateral lower limb swelling. The patient was diagnosed with a severe dissecting aortic aneurysm on trans-thoracic echocardiography and later confirmed by a contrast CT aortogram. The patient was immediately started on anti-impulse therapy with labetalol infusion and underwent emergent aortic dissection repair. This case demonstrates an atypical presentation of a life-threatening condition that might have been missed on the initial assessment.