Cocaine-associated dissection of the thoracic aorta.
Patients present to emergency departments with a variety of complications related to cocaine abuse. Emergency physicians must be aware of the life- and limb-threatening complications to avoid undue mortality and morbidity. We present the case of a patient with aortic dissection who developed the acute onset of abdominal pain 5 minutes after subcutaneous cocaine use. Four previous reports of cocaine-associated aortic dissection are reported in the literature. These cases and other reports of intra-abdominal vascular injuries related to cocaine use are reviewed. Cocaine's mechanism of action as it relates to aortic dissection and some of the pharmacologic agents available for treatment are discussed.
Fisher
A
A
Department of Emergency Medicine, Valley Medical Center, Fresno, California 93702.
Holroyd
B R
BR
D000208:Acute Disease; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003042:Cocaine