Painless Aortic Dissection Revealed After its Rupture to the Pericardium: About a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Stanford type A aortic dissection is a rapidly evolving pathological process often with poor prognosis if no urgent surgical management. However, it may be asymptomatic in the acute phase with late symptomatic presentation or incidental diagnosis on chest imaging. We report the case of a 52-year-old man in whom a painless aortic dissection was discovered incidentally following a pericardial effusion assessment. The patient's condition was successfully managed with uneventful open heart surgery. This case demonstrates an extremely rare presentation of accidental hemorrhagic pericardial effusion caused by painless aortic dissection.