Aortic Dissection as the Culprit for Seizure

The authors present a case of syncope that was caused by aortic dissection. As the main artery to the system circulation, aortic dissection can manifest in numerous ways. This case reminds the clinician of the high index of suspicion necessary to diagnose this potentially life-threatening problem. Indeed, the mortality rate increases 2% per hour in the first 24 hours for a type A aortic dissection, so prompt diagnosis is imperative. The diagnostic complexity in this case is compounded by the very broad differential diagnosis for both aortic dissection and syncope.