Hemothorax Revealing Aortic Aneurism and Aortic Dissection

Fatma Chermiti Ben Abdallah, Houda Gharsalli, Hamida Kwas, Sofia Taktak, Amel Chtourou, Ali Ben Kheder

Pneumology IV department, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisie.

DOI: 10.4236/ojrd.2013.33017                

Abstract

Hemothorax caused by rupture of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection is an uncommon manifestation and carries a high mortality rate. We report two cases of 75- and 80-year-old men, who were referred to our department for exploration of a left pleural opacity. Thoracentesis produced a hemorrhagic fluid. The computed tomography scan revealed an aortic dissection type B of Stanford in the first case and an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta in the second patient. Emergency operation was performed in the first case but the patient died of multiple organ failure 48 hours after surgery. Aortic dissection or aneurysm can result in a hemothorax especially in patient with favourable conditions such as elderly patient and systemic hypertension. Diagnosis relies on computed tomography (CT) scan and echocardiography.

Keywords

Aortic Aneurysm; Aortic Dissection; Hemothorax; Computed Tomography Scan; Echocardiography

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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