53 years old female patient, who presented oppressive
precordial pain, radiating to the neck and jaw, for which she went to
the emergency room, where an ECG image of complete left bundle
branch block was evidenced (Figure 1), with taking ultrasensitive
troponin I at > 50,000 pg/ml, presenting data of acute heart
failure and acute pulmonary edema, requiring endotracheal
intubation, moving urgently to cardiac catheterization without
evidence of obstructive coronary lesions, observing in aortography
interruption of the aortic arch with collateral vessels connecting to
the descending aorta (Figure 2). Later in the ICU, an echocardiogram
was performed that reported LVEF of 27%, generalized hypokinesia,
severe MI and apical thrombus (Figure 3), diagnosing fulminant
myocarditis, for which treatment with methylprednisolone at a
dose of 500 mg for 3 days was started. presenting improvement
with LVEF of 35%, however, she later presented septic shock of
pulmonary origin, which led to the death of the patient. Aortic
arch interruption is a congenital malformation characterized by
complete interruption between the ascending and descending
aorta, with 3 types according to the Celoria-Patton classification, B
being the most frequent, while fulminant myocarditis is myocardial
inflammation due to various etiologies , mainly viral, which can
present from a picture of acute heart failure to cardiogenic shock
and can simulate a picture of acute coronary syndrome. The
importance of the previous case resides in the fact that, although
there is no association between both pathologies, there is no case
reported in the literature in which they occur simultaneously.
Figure 1: 12-lead electrocardiogram. Image of complete left bundle branch block.
Figure 2: Aortography. Interruption of the aortic arch and presence of collateral vessels in the aortic arch and descending
aorta are observed.
Figure 3: Transthoracic echocardiogram. Apical axis 4 chambers.
Using a zoom, a 15x12 mm image of a thrombus is observed at the apex level.
Image of apical thrombus without zoom.
Centella Hernández T (2015) Coartación aó Interrupción del arco aórtico.Cir Cardiov 21(2): 97–106.
Jonas RA, Quaegebeur JM, Kirklin JW et al. (2015) Outcomes in patients with interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect. A multiinstitutional study. J Thorac cardiovascular Surg 107: 1099-113.
(2016) Interrupted Aortic Archin an Adult and Myocardial Infarction. Rev Esp Cardiol 69(2): 212.