Chronic Aortic Dissection in a Young Adult

Background: Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening disease that is often a diagnostic challenge in the Emergency Department (ED). Patients with acute aortic dissection often have underlying hypertension and atherosclerotic disease, and commonly present with acute-onset severe chest or back pain in their sixth or seventh decades of life. Aortic dissection, however, can also be seen in patients < 40 years old and may present chronically, with symptom duration longer than 2 weeks. Objective: We present an unusual case of chronic aortic dissection in a young patient, followed by a review of the literature on chronic aortic dissections and aortic dissections in young patients. Case Report: We report a case of chronic aortic dissection in a 32-year-old man with a history of untreated hypertension who presented to the ED with palpitations and mild shortness of breath. Conclusion: Acute and chronic thoracic aortic dissections can occur in patients of all ages, as well as in patients with atypical signs and symptoms.