Aortic dissection in women during the course of pregnancy or puerperium: a report of 11 cases in central south China.

We have characterized 11 women diagnosed with aortic dissection during the course pregnancy or puerperium by analysis of 1,271 patients enrolled at the Second Xiangya Hospital in central south university of China from 2010 to 2013. The age of these patients ranged from 22 to 39 years old (30.6 ± 5.6 years old). Among which, 5 cases were noted secondary to Marfan syndrome. Three patients were diagnosed at the late stage of pregnancy, 6 cases were in the postpartum stage, and 2 cases occurred in the early stage of pregnancy. Six patients were Stanford A-type, 4 patients were Stanford B-type, and the rest one was diagnosed as aorta aneurysm. The major symptom for 9 patients was manifested by chest/back pain, 1 patient was characterized by chest pain along with dyspnea, while the other one was featured by dyspnea only. Five out of 6 A-type patients were undergone surgical treatment, and 3 patients were survived, while the rest 1 patient refused surgical treatment and died soon in a local hospital. All 4 B-type patients were survived after surgical therapy, and the patient with aorta aneurysm was also survived after surgical treatment. Together, our data suggest that pregnancy associated aortic dissection is more common in late pregnancy or puerperium, and Marfan's syndrome is likely the highest risk factor to this special group of patients. A quick and accurate diagnosis along with appropriate surgical treatments would be necessary to save the lives for both mother and baby.