Undiagnosed Type B Aortic Dissection in Pregnancy: A Case Report
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Abstract
Aortic dissection during pregnancy is a life-threatening emergency for both mother and fetus; fortunately, it is a rare condition. This article presents the case of a 40-year-old patient diagnosed with preeclampsia without severe symptoms who, during the postpartum period, presented with persistent chest pain. During her evaluation, a computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed, which revealed a type B aortic dissection (Stanford B, DeBakey III). The initial management consisted of conservative measures aimed at maintaining target blood pressure levels in a secondary-level hospital that lacks the infrastructure for multidisciplinary care. Therefore, referral to a tertiary care center was sought. This case clearly illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in resource-limited hospitals, highlighting the lack of specific protocols, multidisciplinary medical teams, and rapid inter-institutional referral networks.
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