[Atypical clinical course of thoracic aortic dissection with subacute pericardial hemorrhage]

A case of dissecting aortic aneurysm is reported which occurred without significant pain but was complicated by a subacute pericardial bleeding leading to a large pericardial effusion. The patient was hospitalized because of clinical signs of cardiac tamponade which could be alleviated by pericardiocentesis. Neither 2D-echocardiography nor a portable x-ray of the chest disclosed evidence of aortic dissection. After a symptom-free interval of several hours the patient died because of recurring intractable pericardial tamponade. The differential diagnosis of a large hemorrhagic pericardial effusion should include rupture of a dissecting aortic aneurysm even when typical symptoms are lacking.