title: [Hemomediastinum caused by spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta].
abstract: The authors report the rare case of spontaneous rupture of the aortic isthmus in the absence of preexisting aortic aneurysm or dissection in a hypertensive woman presenting with chest pain and haemomediastinum. The history of trauma 30 years previously, could have been a predisposing factor. The diagnosis of this condition remains difficult and is often missed. The physiopathological, aetiological, clinical and diagnostic features are reviewed. Transoesophageal echocardiography showing an intraparietal haematoma confirmed the aortic origin of the haemomediastinum. Conventional angiography was of no value in the reported case because of the absence of rupture of continuity or of an intimal tear.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie, unité de soins intensifs, Lyon.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dacosta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Claudel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buttard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirkorian
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Touboul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000098:blood supply; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous