Proximal Aortic Dissection Complicated by Cardiac Tamponade

Cardiac tamponade is a well recognized complication of acute proximal aortic dissection and is almost uniformly fatal if not immediately diagnosed and surgically treated. Pericardiocentesis has an ill-defined and perhaps deleterious role in the management of this condition. Severe concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and intravascular volume depletion may further impede ventricular filling in a patient with cardiac tamponade. We describe the management of a patient who presented in a confused state with an acute proximal aortic dissection complicated by cardiac tamponade and associated with evidence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. In such a patient, aggressive fluid administration and emergency surgery should be the treatment of choice.