Spontaneous non-traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta.

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