Congenital pericardial defect associated with ruptured type A aortic dissection.

Matsuda, Naruto; Marumoto, Akira; Nakashima, Hideki; Nakamura, Yoshinobu; Kamihira, Satoshi; Ishiguro, Shingo; Ohgi, Shigetsugu · Ann Thorac Surg · 2004

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Congenital pericardial defect is a rare and little-known anomaly. Here we describe the unique clinical presentation of a 64-year-old man with partial defect of the left pericardium associated with ruptured acute type A aortic dissection manifesting massive left hemothorax. In this patient, the pericardial defect played the role of a pericardial draining window, which incidentally prevented the heart from cardiac tamponade. Emergent surgery was successfully performed with a prosthetic graft replacement.

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