Acute type A aortic dissection involving the iliac and left renal arteries, misdiagnosed as myocardial infarction

Acute aortic dissection is the most frequent and deadly presentation of acute aortic syndromes. Its incidence is estimated at three to four cases per 100 000 persons per year. Its clinical presentation may be misleading, with misdiagnosis ranging between 14.1 and 38% in many series. A late diagnosis or absence of early and appropriate management is associated with mortality rates as high as 50 and 80% by the third day and second week, respectively, especially in proximal lesions. We report on the case of a 53-year-old man who presented with type A aortic dissection, misdiagnosed as acute myocardial infarction, who later died on day 12 of hospitalisation. Although a relatively rare condition, poor awareness in Africa probably accounted for the initial misdiagnosis. Thorough investigation of acute chest pain and initiation of clinical registries are potential avenues to curb related morbidity and mortality.