SPONTANEOUS NONTRAUMATIC RUPTURE OF THE THORACIC AORTA

Spontaneous non-traumatic rupture of the aorta is a very rare conditio n that requires immediate surgery. However, correct preoperative diagn osis is difficult or impossible to establish. We report a case of spon taneous aortic rupture which was successfully treated by emergency sur gical exploration following a transesophageal echographic diagnosis of hemopericardium. This case, as well as other reports, suggests that h emopericardium along with symptoms which suggest aortic dissection or rupture (e.g., acute chest or back pain) should raise a strong suspici on of spontaneous aortic rupture even in the absence of intimal flap o r aortic dilatation, and the emergency surgery may be life-saving.