Seizure and Bilateral External Jugular Vein Distention: A Rare Manifestation of Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection

Mohamad Zbidat; Botros Msheiil; Nasra Idilbi

doi:10.12890/2023_003996

Seizure and Bilateral External Jugular Vein Distention: A Rare Manifestation of Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2023 Aug 16;10(9):003996. doi: 10.12890/2023_003996. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Mohamad Zbidat¹, Botros Msheiil¹, Nasra Idilbi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel.
² The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, D.N. Emek Yezreel, Israel.

Abstract

Introduction: Seizure as a sole sign of Stanford Type A aortic dissection (AAD) is mentioned in the medical literature. In this case, AAD was manifested by external bilateral jugular vein distention and generalized seizure.

Patients and methods: A 47-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with convulsions in the upper and lower extremities. She was diagnosed with AAD and transferred to a hospital with cardio-thoracic capabilities for surgery.

Conclusion: Seizure resulting from aortic dissection has been explained by general cerebral hypoperfusion. However, jugular vein distention could be secondary to increased thoracic pressure, due to compression of the pulmonary artery by the ascending aorta.

Learning points: To our knowledge, this is the first report of generalized seizure with the presence of bilateral jugular vein dilatation as a sign of aortic dissection.Medical staff should be aware of this unusual presentation.

Keywords: Type A aortic dissection; external jugular vein distention; fatal medical emergency.