Case Report: Hemoptysis as a Presentation of Aortic Dissection

Dejan Marčetić¹, Ana Nedić*¹ and Alenka Borovčak Lovrenc²

Received: November 23, 2018;   Published: November 29, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002122

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Abstract

Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood originating from the lower respiratory tract, from a source below the glottis. It is a common alarming symptom for patients and pulmonologists. The most common causes of hemoptysis are bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, necrotizing pneumonia, abscesses, bronchogenic carcinoma, bronchitis, carcinoid or hemoptysis of unknown etiology. A rare causes of hemoptysis are pulmonary-renal syndrome, congenital anomalies, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary infarction [1-4]. Other causes are coagulation disorders, heart failure, aortic aneurysm and certain medications. Aortic dissection describes the condition when a separation has occurred in aortic wall intima, causing blood flow into a new false channel composed of the inner and outer layers of the media. Dissection most commonly occurs with a discrete intimal tear, but can occur without one [6]. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, sudden severe upper back or chest pain often described as a “tearing” sensation from the neck down the back. The early diagnosis of aortic dissection improves treatment and outcome [7].