Spontaneous Nontraumatic Rupture of the Thoracic Aorta: Report of a Case

Abstract

Spontaneous nontraumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is a very rare, life-threatening condition for which emergency diagnostic and therapeutic measures are indicated. The patient reported herein suffered a spontaneous rupture of the thoracic descending aorta through an atheromatous plaque without aneurysmal formation. When acute intrapericardial, mediastinal, or intrapleural bleeding develops without any evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection, the possibility of spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta should be considered in the differential diagnosis, and appropriate emergency surgery may be life-saving.