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.
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