title: Successful surgical repair of aortic dissection presenting with complete heart block.
abstract: Acute dissection of the ascending aorta can present with complete heart block if the dissecting hematoma involves the interatrial septum near the atrioventricular node. We report a case of acute type A dissection presenting with complete heart block treated with emergency grafting of the ascending aorta, aortic valve replacement, and coronary artery bypass grafting. The patient survived, although complete heart block persisted requiring permanent pacemaker implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Paul Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Boehrer
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial