title: Life-threatening aortic dissection with cardiac tamponade in a healthy 15-year-old male.
abstract: We present a case of aortic dissection with shock due to cardiac tamponade in a previously healthy 15-year-old male. The diagnosis was suspected and confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography before transfer to the cardiothoracic unit for successful surgical intervention. Because it is a rare life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate in the pediatric population, a very high index of suspicion is required to reach the clinical diagnosis in a timely manner and institute appropriate surgical management.
authors.affiliation: Ormskirk District General Hospital, 32 Kendrick's Fold, Rainhill, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 9LX, UK. Thattakkat@aol.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thattakkat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zbaeda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000209:etiology*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures