Short term follow-up of a patient with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection under dabigatran treatment

This case illustrates the follow-up of a 57-year-old female with type B aortic dissection under dabigatran treatment. The patient had been operated 8 years ago due to type A aortic dissection. Aortic valve was repaired and 26mm Dacron graft was used in ascending aorta and aortic arch. In computerized tomography scans after surgery, a dissection flap extending from the descending aorta to the iliac arteries was seen but the patient was asymptomatic and was not operated. Six months ago the patient was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. CHA₂DS₂VASc score was 3 so dabigatran treatment was started. Aortic aneurysm and dissection was followed via CT and echocardiography by 6 month intervals and no progression was seen. Also no thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events were observed.
To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient with type B aortic dissection under dabigatran treatment. As a result of this case we concluded that use of dabigatran may be safe in uncomplicated type B aortic dissection but this case needs to be confirmed by longer follow up and with more similar subjects.