Prognostic Factors Associated with Aortic Dissection at the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of the Point “G” Hospital University Center, Bamako, Mali

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the prognostic factors associated with aortic dissection with the cardiology intensive care unit of the Point “G” Hospital University Center. Methodology: This was a descriptive transversal study from January 2010 to February 2017 that included all inpatients during this period. Results: Of 6912 patients admitted, 23 patients were admitted for an aortic dissection, a frequency of 0.33%. Of these, (6) six were under age 50 (26.1%) and the majority age group was 50 - 69 years old. Cardiovascular risk factors were high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes with 73.9%, 60% and 13% of cases, respectively. At the clinic, chest pain and dyspnea were the main symptoms with respectively 65.2% and 52.2% and with 56.5% asphygmy was associated with pain. Para-clinically, renal failure and anemia were the major laboratory abnormalities found with respectively 43.75% and 31.25% of cases. Doppler echocardiography revealed lesions associated with aortic dissection. In the thoracic angioscan, the aortic dissection was type A (43.5%) and 56.5% type B. The co-morbidities, the associated lesions and the hemodynamic state of the patient indicate the degree of urgency. The treatment was medical. The evolution was full of complications with 52.2% of deaths including 7 (seven) type A patients. Intra-hospital death was 26.1%. Other complications were heart failure (47.8%), the renal failure (43.75%) and an aortic aneurysm (34.8%). Conclusion: Aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical and surgical emergency.