Acute type I aortic dissection is a life-threatening emergency with potentially devastating complications, including end-organ malperfusion. Early detection of malperfusion with intraoperative imaging allows for efficient transition to appropriate interventions. We present a case of a 65-year-old male with acute type I aortic dissection who underwent emergent surgical repair of the aortic root and hemiarch followed by acutely worsening distal malperfusion. The use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography played a critical role in visualizing diversion of flow to the false lumen, prompting urgent vascular surgery consultation and life-saving thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2021. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.