Abdominal aortic aneurysm in pregnant crack cocaine abuse patient

Back ground: rupture is a fatal complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm. an aneurysm is defined as ruptured when bleeding is present outside of the wall of the aneurysm.aaa is usually the result of degeneration in the media of the arterial wall, resulting in a slow dilatation of the lumen of the vessel. aaa is usually asymptomatic until they expand or rupture. whether aortic rupture is due to aaa can only be ascertained though aortic imaging.patients at risk for aaa are those who are male, old, have atherosclerotic vascular disease, collagen vascular disease or mycotic aneurysm. chronic inflammations play an important role on aaa formation. recently identified risk factor for aortic aneurysm in the pregnant woman is the use of crack cocaine. aaa is very rare in young females crack cocaine users and pregnant woman are at increased risk of suffering from aaa. cardiovascular complications related with cocaine abuse are adrenergic mediated, vasoconstriction, include myocardial ischemia, infarction, myocarditis, thrombosis and aortic dissection.case presentation: a 32 year old woman crack user, in 40 weeks pregnancy came to labordepartment. an emergency cesarean section was performed. she expired 13 hours after surgery.autopsy detects dissection of abdominal aortic aneurysm.conclusion: sympathetic agonist and vasoconstriction effect of crack resulting increased bloodpressure, heart rate, myocardial contractility would increase the risk of aortic dissection.