Purpose or Case Report: Aortic dissection in children is often associated with congenital heart disease (bicuspid aortic valve or aortic coarctation), collagenopathies or serious injuries. It rarely arises as a differential diagnosis in the presence of thoracic or abdominal pain in an apparently healthy child. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to their survival.
Our purpose is describe the clinical and images characteristics that allowed to diagnose .
Methods & Materials: We present a 14 year old patient, who consulted in their hometown due to abdominal pain, marked asthenia since 3 months and arterial hypertension. Patient’s history included chronic renal failure (left kidney uretero hydronephrosis and right kidney hypoplasia), dilated cardiomyopathy, and poorly controlled hypertension. It is referred to our hospital for study and treatment.
Results: Abdominal ultrasound showed at color Doppler examination aliasing flow in the abdominal aorta and both iliac arteries, and waves with different flow velocities within the same inner diameter of vessel. With the evidence of vascular pathology CT angiography was performed showing abdominal aorta and both iliac arteries dissection type III-B (DeBakey-Stanford classification). Treatment is performed by hemodynamic department by placing aorto- bi iliac stent.
Conclusions: Aortic dissection has a very low incidence in the pediatric population. It should be suspected in the presence of intense chest or abdominal pain, depending on the location of the dissection, hypertension and predisposing pathology .
The imaging methods allow a definitive diagnosis and treatment.