A rare case of aortic connective tissue band masquerading as acute aortic dissection

A 57-year-old man with a history of hypertension was transferred to our institution having presented with acute back and flank pain following a syncopal episode. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated an intimal tear at the distal ascending aorta just proximal to the origin of the innominate artery that was concerning for acute Type A aortic dissection (Figure 1). On reevaluation, his symptoms had completely resolved. Blood pressure and heart rate were controlled on esmolol and nicardipine infusions while further preoperative imaging was obtained.